A Tale Of Two Rogues

== Chapter One ==
A Salamandastron hare galloper was scouring the beach when he heard a high pitched cry down by the water. Dagwood Consfortingtam ran as fast as he could toward the noise tightly grabbing his javelin. He spotted an object down by the water that looked like a basket. As it turned out, it was a basket. when Dagwood peered inside he was shocked to find a tiny baby otter. she had to be only days old. he quickly fashoned a sling out of the cloth she was wrapped in he put her in the sling and held her tight as he hurried back to the mountain with the otter babe.
Colonel Whipscut rushed into Lord Brang's forge room. "Lord, excuse my interuption sir, but the scout Consfortintam found an otter babe down by the tideline."
"An otter? Tell him to come up here with the babe."
Whipscut saluted the badger lord and went to fetch Dagwood. Dagwood knocked on the forge room door with his free paw. "Enter!" boomed Lord Brang.
Dagwood entered. "You wanted to see me sir?" he asked.
Brang nodded. "May i see the otter babe?"
The hare handed her to the badger lord. she fit in one of his massive paws. "You said you found her on the beach?"
"Yes sir. What awful creature would abandon their child?"
"My guess would be, young Dagwood, is that her mother had lost her mate before she was born and the child looks like him. Dagwood i trust you to care for her like a father."
"Yes sir."
"What are you going to name her?" asked the badger lord.
"Hmmm...how about Clarice, that's a pretty name."
"Clarice it is."
== Chapter Two ==
20 seasons later...
"Silence!" Old Colonel Whippscutt bellowed across the mess hall. Everyone fell silent. "Lord Brang wishes to see Clarice Consfortingtam up in his chamber immediately."
Clarice sighed and followed the Colonel up to the forge room. Dagwood was waiting for them and put a lanky arm across his adopted daughter's shoulders. "What's this about?" she asked.
"Shh, Lord Brang has a surprise for you." he replied.
They stood in front of the badger lord. "My goodness, you've gotten pretty. Clarice, i have something for you."
He handed her a wrapped parcel. her eyes lit up with excitement as she unwrapped the parcel. inside was a black regimental jacket. she looked up at Brang with a huge grin spread across her face. "Sir, does this mean i get to be a part of the Long Patrol?"
Brang smiled. "Well, sort of. i want you to be a scout for Salamandastron. That means delivering important messages to the Long Patrol and Redwall. well, try it on!"
The jacket fit perfectly. she noticed that the buttons were made of shiny black jet stones. "I also have this for you." The badger lord took a carefully forged sabre off of the wall behind him and handed it to her. It was light and sharp and the silver basket hilt had more jet stones inlaid into it. Clarice slid it into her belt and hugged the giant badger. He smiled and embraced her. "I haven't told you the best part, your friend Bescarum Whipscut will be joining you on your first mission!"
"Oh thank you sir! What is our first mission?"
He handed her a leather satchel filled with scrolls. "Take these to Redwall. These scrolls have the history of our mountain written on them."
Clarice saluted the badger lord. "I will not fail you sir!"
"I know."
Scarum and Clarice left that night for their mission to Redwall. They travelled for days along the coast and when they came to the mouth of the River Moss they stopped at a small inn/tavern. Clarice found a table while Scarum went to get drinks. She looked around the tavern at all of the rough and tumble creatures from all walks of life. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed a large burly male sea otter watching her. He got up and came over and sat down beside her. He was huge and wore leather sea boots and a black trihorn hat. There was a cutlass in the red sash around his waist. "Hey, Can i get you a drink?" he asked.
He had a scar over one eye and as she looked closer she noticed that his one eye was completely blind, but she had to admit he was handsome.
"Um, sure, but my friend is already bringing me one."
He looked at Scarum. "Why are you travelling with a rabbit? Oh, beg pardon miss, We ain't been properly introduced. I'm Captain Nathaniel Danisham."
"I am Clarice Consfortingtam from Salamandastron. That is my friend Scarum and he's a hare not a rabbit."
"Sorry, it's hard to tell the difference. Salamandastron eh, the badger mountain. I didn't know otters could be part of the Long Patrol."
"They can't. I'm a scout and I need to get to Redwall to deliver some important documents."
He nodded. Scarum finally came with the drinks. "Who the heck are you?" he asked Nathaniel.
Nathaniel grabbed a tankard of beer off of a passing waiter's tray. "I'm Captain Nathaniel Danisham. Your partner just happened to catch my eye and I couldn't resist coming closer to her beauty." He winked at her with his good eye.
Clarice giggled. Scarum gave him a dirty look and said "I don't jolly well like you."
"Relax, I just asked her if I could get her a drink. I haven't done nothin' to harm her."
"I still don't trust you. You have seascum written all over your face. Pirate types like you don't deserve to walk the earth."
"Scarum!" shouted Clarice.She got up and put her arm through Nathaniels. "I will not let you talk to Nathaniel like that. He has done nothing wrong."
They walked away together leaving Scarum behind. He watched them drunkenly climb up the stairs and out of sight...
== Chapter Three ==
The next morning...
Sunlight drfted through the window onto Clarice's face. She groaned and sat up holding her head. She had a pounding headache. "Oh...ow, That was quite a night, eh Nathaniel?" Clarice looked towards the other side of the bed and found it empty!
"Nathaniel?"
He was gone. She jumped out of bed and dressed quickly. Grabbing her sabre, she ran downstairs and nearly knocked over Scarum. "Oh, Scarum, have you seen Nathaniel?"
"Hmph. That sea rogue is long gone by now. I saw him walk out of here before dawn."
"Why didn't you stop him?" she asked.
"I tried, but the blighter got away. I got in a few good punches though! He'll be right sore for awhile." Scarum replied.
Clarice looked down at her feet. "We should get to Redwall." she said softly.
Scarum nodded and handed her the bag of scrolls. The pair began their trek through Mossflower wood with Clarice a few paces behind Scarum. She drug her footpaws as she walked while Scarum kept up a steady pace ahead of her.After an hour of walking Scarum looked back over his shoulder at Clarice. She hadn't said a word since they had left the Tavern/inn.
Clarice was hugging herself and her head was low. Scarum could see tears streaming down her face. He stopped and walked back to her. "What's wrong?" he asked.
She began crying harder. Scarum pulled her close to him and she buried her face in his jacket. "Oh Scarum, You were right! I never should've trusted him.Promise me that you won't tell anyone about this, if Dagwood found out he would be so dissapointed and he might never let me go on another mission again."
"I promise."
They continued on their mission to Redwall and arrived just in time for dinner.
"Welcome friends, What can i do for you?" asked Abbess Byrony.
"I am Clarice Consfortingtam and this is my partner Bescarum Whippscutt. we came to deliver these records of Salamandastron for your scholars to use."
The Abbess accepted the satchel of scrolls from Clarice. "Thank you. feel free to join us for dinner."
Clarice declined the offer, but Scarum went straight to the food. Clarice went out into the orchard and sat down against a peach tree. Her head was full of confused thoughts. (Why did he leave me? He seemed so nice and trustworthy. I can't believe I was so stupid!) she thought.
"Hey are you alright?"
Clarice looked up and saw Skipper standing in front of her."I'm fine, go away."
"You don't look fine to me. Tell me, What's bothering you?"
"I'd rather not talk about it. I doubt that you'd understand."
Skipper sat down beside her. "Did you meet someone on your journey?"
"How did you know?" she asked.
"Lucky guess."
"I did meet someone, a sea otter, he kind of broke my heart."
Skipper looked confused. "You fell in love with a sea otter? What was his name?"
"Nathaniel Danisham, Captain Nathaniel Danisham."
"I don't think I know him, but i see why you're upset. He left you didn't he?"
Clarice nodded. Skipper stood up and said, "It's not your fault. Good night Clarice."
The next morning Abbess Byrony supplied Clarice and Scarum with packs of food and they began their journey back to Salamandastron. When they arrived back at the mountain Lord Brang congratulated the pair for the completion of their first mission. Dagwood praised his daughter by giving her a necklace made of polished sea shells, but Clarice didn't feel like she deserved it.
== Chapter Four ==
8 weeks later...
Clarice Consfortingtam was walking beside her friend Scarum on the beach in front of Salamandastron. Scarum was rambling on about how his father refused to promote him to a higher rank. "Scarum." Clarice interrupted.
"Huh? Oh, What is it?"
"You remember that sea otter, Nathaniel, right?" she asked.
"How could I forget such a horrible plank tailed, low life, son of a..."
"I'm pregnant." She said quickly cutting him off mid-sentence.
He stopped and stared at her. "Please tell me you're not serious. Clarice, please tell me this is a joke."
"I wish I could."
"How long have you known?" Scarum asked.
"About 3 weeks ago I felt a stirring inside of me, at first I thought it was just my stomach, but it kept happening more often. That's when I realized that I had to be pregnant. That and i've also been getting "bigger."
"Are you going to tell Major Dagwood?"
"No. I can't, he'd be so ashamed of me. When I went into the forge room uninvited he didn't look at or aknoledge me for for the longest time."
Behind them Scarum spotted a hare acting as a messenger coming up to them."Here comes Horty, act normal."
When the hare reached them he was out of breath, but was able to give Scarum a letter and then run off again. "What does it say?" Clarice asked.
"We are to leave at sunset to Redwall. According to this the Abbess has some things for lord Brang. By golly it's nearly sunset now! Lets go back up to the mountain."
They went back up to the mountain to receive their provision packs, just in time for them to leave. Keeping the farewells short, they were quickly on their way to redwall.
Out at sea...
Captain Nathaniel Danisham lie in his bunk, but was feeling restless. He sat up and winced as he swung his legs over the side of the bunk. The wound that he had recieved from Scarum had not fully healed yet. Grabbing his crutch and used it to stand up. He walked slowly to the door of his cabin, opened it, and walked slowly onto the deck of his ship. The ship's first mate, Jenner, came up to him. "How're you feelin' capn'?" He asked.
"Better. When i'm fully healed I will kill that hare for doing this to me. I could be dead now, if not for you and the crew. And who did he think he was? Making me leave Clarice. She probably hates me."
"How could anyone hate you capn'? She probably dreams about ye and can't wait to see ye again."
"You think so? well, I don't know if she dreams about me, but I know that I dream about her. I would give anything just to hold her in my arms again."
Back to Scarum and Clarice...
When they were half a days march from Redwall Scarum and Clarice decided to set up camp for the night. Clarice groaned as she lay down on her back. "Are you sure that you'll be able to take second watch?" asked Scarum.
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me." Replied Clarice as she placed her paws upon her swollen stomach and closed her eyes.
Early that morning before dawn...
Clarice was woken by a sharp pain. She sat up and saw that the sky was still dark and the fire had burned down to glowing red embers. "Scarum!" She said loudly.
He jumped, "Oh, Clarice it's just you. What is it? What's wrong?"
"I think we should start heading to Redwall."
"Now? It's still dark."
"Yes now! I really don't want to have this baby on the road."
Scarum was suddenly wide awake. He went over and helped her stand up. She winced. "Scarum, I need you to, Ow! Carry me and run!"
He scooped her up into his arms and ran as fast as he could towards Redwall.
== Chapter Five ==
Chapter 5
When Scarum reached redwall's gates with Clarice, He shouted up to the battlements, "Open up! It's an emergency."
The gates opened and the hare rushed quickly inside. Skipper saw Scarum racing across the lawn with Clarice in his arms and was suddenly worried. He ran as fast as he could to keep up with Scarum.
"Scarum, What's going on?" he asked.
"I'll tell you later, now take me to the infirmary!"
Skipper ran up the stairs to the infirmary with Scarum close behind him. The hare laid his friend on a bed and Skipper yelled, "What's wrong? Is she hurt?"
"No,just go get the infirmary sister!"
Skipper rushed from the room and a second later the infirmary sister was there along with a few other females. They shooed Scarum from the infirmary and shut the door in his face. At the same time Skipper was running down the hall followed by a pretty female otter. They stopped and sat beside Scarum in the hall. "Now will you please tell me what's going on?"
Scarum explained the situation to Skipper and his companion. "Why would she go on a mission at a time like this? Didn't anyone try to stop her?" Skipper asked. Scarum stayed silent. "Nobody knew, did they?"
"I was the only one that she trusted to tell."
"Skip?" Asked the female otter.
"Yes Marina?"
"I'm going to check on your friend." She said then entered the infirmary.
"Who is she?" Asked Scarum.
"My wife." Skipper replied.
Later that morning...
"It's a girl!" said Sister Violet excitedly as she wrapped the babe in a blanket and placed her in her mother's arms.
Clarice smiled wearily as her child Wiggled and Growled softly. "She's beautiful. I can't believe i'm saying this , but i wish Nathaniel were here."
"She's so adorable!" squealed Marina. "What are you goin to name her?"
"I think i'm going to name her Rose."
"Oh, what a beautiful name! Let me go get Skipper!" She hurried out of the infirmary and came back dragging Skipper by the arm. Skipper looked at the bundle in Clarice's arms and smiled.
"She is beautiful, just likee a rose in full bloom." he said.
Marina rested her head on Skipper's shoulder. "I hope our child will be just as wonderful." She said softly.
"Are you two expecting?" asked Clarice.
Skipper blushed. "Well...yeah."
Clarice smiled. "Congratulations! Can I speak to Scarum alone for a moment?" She asked.
They nodded and left along with the infirmary sisters. Scarum came in and sat beside Clarice."Scarum, can we stay here? I don't think I can leave her."
"But Clarice, we have to go back to Salamandastron sometime."
"I know, but now I have a daughter that needs me to care for her."
"We could probably stay for about one season before they decide to send someone for us."
"I understand. Can you put Rose in that cradle? I need to rest."
He nodded and took the babe from her and put her gently in the small cradle. Clarice had fallen asleep so He tippawed out of the room and quietly shut the door behind him."
1 season later...
Clarice sat in the gatehouse with squirrel recorder, Triss. Rose was asleep upon Clarice's lap. "How is Skipper doing?" asked Triss.
Clarice shook her heasd. "Marina has gotten worse. Her fever went up again and she still hasn't had the baby."
"I hate to say this, but I don't think that she'll live if she gives birth. It would take all of the strength she has left." said Triss sadly.
"I have to agree. Poor Skipper, what will he do if she dies? He's already worrying so much that he's turning gray." said Clarice.
"He'll be hurt for a long while, but he will have the little one to take care of. That should distract him a bit."
Clarice nodded. suddenly there was knock on the door of the gatehouse. Scarum entered and said, "Clarice there's somebody here that want's to see you."
She got up and shifted Rose so she sat on her hip. Rose's eyes fluttered open and was beginning to wake. Clarice followed Scarum out of the gatehouse and into Cavern Hole. There stood five long patrol officers. Only one caught her immeadiate attention. "Dagwood. What are you doing here?"
"I've come to take you and young Scarum back to Salamandastron." He walked over to Clarice and put a paw on Rose's head."Who is this?" he asked.
"That's Rose."
"She looks a lot like you. everything except the eyes."
"Dag I can explain..."
"You were acting rather strange before you left. You were pregnant werent you? Give her to the Abbess so we can be on our way."
"I can't leave her."
Scarum came up to Clarice and whispered, "Give her to me. I'll take her while you two sort this out."
Clarice gave her to Scarum and he left Cavern Hole with rose. Little did she know that she wouldn't see her daughter again for six seasons. The remaining four hares surrounded her."What's going on Dag? What are you going to..." One of the hares behind her knocked her out.
"Pick her up and take her with us. Bescarum should be out of Redwall by know. Lets go."
They left Redwall and took Clarice, still unconscious, with them without a single departing word.
== Chapter Six ==
Captain Nathaniel Danisham lay on his back on the deck above his cabin with his worn black trihorn hat covering his eyes and plucking lazily at a guitar. He heard pawsteps coming up the stairs. "Capn', we're almost to the Mountain. Dano could see it from the crowsnest."
From the voice Nathaniel could tell it was Jenner. Nathaniel sat up and pushed his back onto the top of his head."Good. When we go ashoreI want you, Jem, Dano, Rigg, and Will to come with me. Tell the others to stay on the ship until further orders."
Jenner saluted him. "Aye, aye capn'."
At Salamandastron...
Clarice stared at the rough stone celing of the barracks lost in thought. She needed to see her daughter again, even if it was only for a second. She needed to know if rose was alright. "Excuse me..um..Clarice?" The haremaid's voice made her lose her train of thought and she jumped.
"Oh, Martha, it's just you. What is it?"
"there's someone outside that wants to see you. He said that you two know each other from a long time ago."
"What's his name?" asked Clarice.
Martha shrugged. "I didn't ask."
Clarice sighed and got up to follow Martha to the entrance of Salamandastron. Once there Clarice had to push and shove her way through the crowd of hares that had gathered there. When she stepped out of the crowd and onto the white crystaline sands she looked at who had wanted to see her and froze. It was him. Nathaniel Danisham the sea otter captain whom she had loved. He looked the same with that fairytale prince's smile on his face. Wait what was she thinking? He had betrayed her! Her eyes burned with anger at the thought. "It's been a long time since i've seen your pretty face Clarice.We really should sit down and chat about what has happened since we last met."
That did it. Clarice's anger peaked and she drew her sabre and charged at Nathaniel yelling her warcry "Eulllalliaaaa!"
His select crew scattered as she came at them, but Nathaniel didn't move and suddenly Clarice's blade was at his throat. "Don't even try talking sweetly to me like that you filthy liar!"
He smiled. "you're beautiful when you're angry."
"What do you want?" She asked him angrily.
"Well," He pushed the sabre away from his neck. "I came to see you of course. You have no idea how much i have missed you."
this angered Clarice even more. She pulled back her arm and punched him as hard as she could. He fell back into the sand and she yelled, "If you missed me so much why did you choose now too come see me and why did you leave me?"
Nathaniel stood up and shook sand from his fur. "I didn't leave of my own accord, your little rabbit friend could tell you that."
"Leave Scarum out of this!"
"Fine, but he could tell you what really happened that night, i mean he nearly killed me."
Clarice stayed silent, but he could see the hatred for him burning behind those smoky gray eyes of hers. He sighed. "I know you hate me Clarice, But tell me, what has happened since we last met?"
Clarice looked him in the eye. "You want to know what happened? i'll tell you what happened! You're a Father Nathaniel. I had a daughter about nine weeks after we were together! And get this, she doesn't even know we exist!"
Nathaniel was in shock. him a father? He had a daughter. Where was she now? he thought. "What do you mean she doesn't know we exist?"
Clarice turned away from him as tears welled up in her eyes. "I..I left her while she was still very young."
== Chapter Seven ==
Clarice began walking back towards the mountain while fighting back tears. "Wait!" Cried nathaniel. "Where can I find her?"
Clarice kept on walking. "Clarice, if you take me to her i will never bother you again, ever, for as long as i live. I promise."
She glared over her shoulder at him. "Fine. We leave at dawn." was all she said before dissapearing inside the mountain. The crowd of hares quickly dispersed and soon only Nathaniel and his selected crew were the only ones left on the beach. Nathaniel turned to his crew and said, "Well boys, Lets get back to the ship to tell the others to help make it shipshape for a lady!"
"Aye, Captain." they all replied.
As they were walking back to the ship Nathaniel began rubbing his jaw where Clarice's fist had made contact with his face. "She's a fiesty one eh' Capn'?" Said Rigg sarcasticaly.
"Oh, shut up." He replied. Rigg laughed.
The next morning Captain Nathaniel Danisham went to fetch Clarice from the mountain. She stood outside the entrance dressed in her regimental jacket with her sabre stuk through her belt and a pack slung over her shoulder. He could see that her eyes still burned with anger for him. Before he could say anything she said, "Don't even try to seduce me on this voyage. I don't want anything to do with you, I only agreed to come because i wanted to see my daughter."
"Aye, aye miss. So you ever been on a ship before?" She ignored his question and started towards the ship.
"I'll take that as a no. Well it'll take a while to get your sea legs, but once you get the hang of it it's not too bad." She still ignored him. "you know the crew and I were..." She glared at him. "I should just stop talking."
She nodded. They walked in silence the rest of the way to the ship. Once they were aboard the ship Clarice asked, "Where will I be sleeping?"
Nathaniel had to think about this. "Well...you could sleep below decks with the crew, but you shouldn't sleep near a bunch of males. You can have my cabin."
"Where is your cabin?"
Nathaniel took her to his cabin and opened the door for her. they walked in and Nathaniel fidgeted as Clarice glanced about the small room. Her gaze drifted from the small bunk, to the desk laden with charts and maps, to the shelves filled with trinkets and treasures looted from vermin ships. Finally she said, "It'll do."
Nathaniel breathed a sigh of relief."Since i'm taking your cabiin, where are you planning to sleep?"
"Um...Well, i was thinking that you could take the bunk and i'll sleep on the floor. I wont be here for very long anyways. I'm up most of the night helping my crew navigate."
Clarice sighed and put her pack on the floor and sat down upon the bunk. Nathaniel leaned up against a wall. "So, where are we sailing to anyways?" asked Nathaniel.
"Redwall Abbey. If you keep sailing up the coast there will be a river that flows into the sea. Sail up that river until you come to a ford. Anchor your ship there and then we're only a three days march to Redwall."
He nodded. Clarice got up and walked over to him. "I forgot to mention that a group of hares will be meeting us at Redwall. This includes Major Dagwood Consfortingtam, my stepfather, and Bescarum Whipscut."
"Alright."
Suddenly the ship lurched forward and Clarice stumbled into Nathaniel. He caught her in his strong arms and was surprised that she didn't pull away from him. He also noticed that her anger had subsided and had been replaced by sadness. "They made me leave her." she whispered.
"What?" Nathaniel was confused.
"Dagwood made me leave Rose at Redwall. He forced me to leave my daughter."
"Rose...I have a Daughter named Rose." Nathaniel whispered to himself. He looked down at Clarice and saw that she had tears running down her face. He pulled her close to him. "We'll get her back. I promise. Then you'll never have to go back to that mountain ever again."
"Ok, I'm going to trust you to help me get her back."
Nathaniel leaned down and kissed her gently on the mouth. They stood there for a moment and when they broke their kiss Nathaniel said,"I'm going to go give my crew the directions to Redwall."
After Nathaniel left Clarice fell onto the small bunk and buried her face in the pillow. It smelled like him. Like Nathaniel. Of salty seaspray with a hint of vanilla. She sighed and thought, (This is going to be a long voyage.)
== Chapter Eight ==
Clarice was awakened by Nathaniel's snoring. She rolled over in the small bunk and opened her eyes. She saw him sitting at his desk slumped forward on top of a map he must've been working on late last night. Clarice got up out of bed and decided to get dressed for the day. She dressed in knee length black trousers and a light green tunic. She left the cabin quickly and stepped out onto the deck. As she began walking towards the other end of the ship she spied a little male sea otter following her. She turned around and placed her paws on her hips. "Are you following me?" she asked him.
The tiny otter shook his head. "I no bes follerin you. I was just..um."
"What's your name?" Clarice asked.
"Canvas. My pa and my brothers work on the ship. they say Canvas is too likkle to work." Canvas looked sad.
"Well, you must know your way around the ship. could you show me the way to the galley. Some breakfast would be nice."
He saluted her. "Foller me!" he said instantly cheered up.
Clarice followed him to the galley where a thin female sea otter was laboring over a cauldron of stew. "Auntie Will! The Capn's mate wants Brekkist!" yelled canvas.
Clarice growled inwardly at the little sea otter. She was not Nathaniel's mate. The thin sea otter turned around and wiped her paws on her apron. "Oh, hello...Um, I'm sorry i don't know your name."
"My name is Clarice Consfortingtam. He called you Will, I'm assuming that's your name."
"What, oh no," she shook her head. "Will is just a nick name. My name is Willow Halloway. My husband Jem steers the ship."
Willow grabbed a bowl and filled it up with steaming hot soup and gave it to Clarice with a piece of fresh bread. "Canvas," called Willow, "Could you go back above deck. Perhaps you could go help Jem or annoy Jenner. I would like to talk about grownup stuff with miss Clarice."
Canvas left leaving the two females alone. Willow waited patiently while Clarice ate. Clarice ate quickly and when finished said, "That was wonderful Willow. Thank you."
Willow blushed, "You're welcome. So...How did you and the captain meet?" She asked.
Clarice hesitated before answering, "well...um, He came up to me at this tavern and offered to buy me a drink. I said sure. When my comrade came back to the table he saw Nathaniel and they got into a fight. I stood up to defend Nathaniel and then we....Kind..Got together. Then when i found that he had left me during the night my comrade and I continued on our mission to Redwall."
Willow nodded in understanding. "What happened after that?"
"Abot five weeks later i found out that i was pregnant and on my last mission to Redwall I gave birth to a baby girl. That's why i'm here now. We agreed to go get her."
"Did you abandon her?"
"No. I was taken away from her by force of the Long Patrol. Evidently they don't like their officers having children with sea rogues they barely know."
Willow's eyes filled with sadness. "That's awful. I wish I could say that i've lived only a peaceful life, but that would be a lie. I know the cruelness of this world all to well." she said. She shook her head and gripped her apron tightly. "I was a slave most of my life. It hurts to go into detail about it, but let's just say the scars will never leave me. Physically and mentally." She lifted up her blouse to expose her back. Clarice gasped and placed a paw over her mouth. There were many crisscrossed silvery scars all over her back. She lowered her blouse again to hide the old wounds. "I still have nightmares about the guards who whipped me, and about the night of my mothers death. She didn't deserve to die that night."
"Something tells me that your mother wasn't the only one you loved that died."
"She wasn't. My father died when I was fifteen seasons old. Little did I know that in one season we would be liberated by Nathaniel's crew. Anyways, he died avenging me. One of the guards, a weasel called Bogleach, beat me until i was unconscious one night when he caught me after curfew. He left me bruised and bloody in a small allyway to die. I wasn't aware of anything until my brother, August, found me and carried me home. There he and my sister tried to clean me up as best they could, but my father came home from his work and saw me still bloody in my brothers arms. He got real angry and began shouting, "Who did this to you?" I managed to say Bogleach and then pass out again. When I woke up the blood had been washed from my fur and I had been dressed in a different tunic. I saw my sister weeping and asked what had happened and when she said that dad had been killed I began sobbing to. I hurt all over so I couldn't sit up so I laid there and cried while Augie held my paw with one of his and held my sister with the other. August was the strong silent type so he didn't want us to see him cry, but at night I could hear him sobbing."
"Where are your siblings now?"
"Only August and I were left of our family by the time we were freed. My sister, Latika, had gotten married to a Slave who worked in the fields with her and she was going to have a child, but she died in childbirth along with her unborn child. She just wasn't strong enough. After my accident August was the only one who went to work to support us both. I could barely walk i was so weak. When we were liberated Jem carried me back to the ship and basically nursed my brother and I back to health. August now works on the ship like all of what's left of the other slaves. Many didn't last very long because they were so weak and malnourished."
Clarice didn't know what to say after listening to Willow's tragic tale. Suddenly there were loud footfalls coming down the steps to the galley. Nathaniel appeared looking tired with dark circles underneath his eyes and his headfur sticking up at odd angles. "Am I too late for breakfast?" he asked.
"Nope. I saved you some." said Willow as she filled up a bowl with stew and gave it to him with a thick slice of bread.
He looked down at the food and said, "Is there any more of that hotroot pepper from the south islands left?"
Willow nodded and took a box off of a shelf, opened it, and put just a pinch of bright red pepper into his bowl. He thanked her and began eating. When he was finished he turned to Clarice. "Can I talk to you for a while in my cabin? I have some questions for you."
Clarice sighed and stood up to follow him. As they left the galley she waved goodbye to Willow. They had to go across the main deck where there were many sea otters at work. One of them bumped into Clarice and quickly said sorry then carried on with his task.
When they made it to the cabin Nathaniel sat down at his desk and picked right up on where he had left off on his map. Clarice stood in front of him with her arms folded across her chest. "Well, what did you want to talk about?" she asked.
Nathaniel looked up at her. " I was wondering who I should avoid at this Redwall place."
"Hmmm...Well i'd stay away from all of the hares and maybe Skipper of otters. He's kind of an iffy subject. Also stay away from those who seem to dislike you."
"Sounds reasonable. So...I was wondering..What does my daughter look like exactly?"
"Rose looks almost exactly like me except for the eyes. She has your brown eyes. Thank goodness she didn't inheirit my ugly gray ones." Clarice replied.
"I think your eyes are beautiful," Nathaniel murmured. "Everything about you is beautiful. The first time I saw yoiu across that smoky bar I knew that you were the one."
Clarice got angry. "I don't believe in love at first sight. How can you truly love me when you know absolutely nothing about me?"
"I know you better than you think."
"Ok then, whats my favorite color?"
"Black."
"Bla...Hey how did you know?"
"your jacket is black and your sword has black stones in it. That must mean you like black."
"Fine, but that doesn't mean you know the story of my life. And I don't know yours. I mean we were only together for one night!"
He got up and went over to her. "Then maybe we should both tell our stories. I'll go first." He took her paw in his and they walked over to the bunk together and sat down.
Back at Redwall...
Little rose and her best friend Renji were playing in the grounds when they heard someone at the gate. They raced up the wallsteps to the battlements. They peered over the edge and saw a group of hares standing by the gates. "Hellwow down dere! Who bes you?" Yelled Renji.
one hare with a long waxed mustache called up, "Long Patrol hares! Go get your Abbess to let us in young un!"
Renji drew his toy sword, (which was a small branch) and whispered to Rose. "I'll pwotect da Abbey. Rosie go get da Abbess!"
Rose hurried down the wallsteps and ran into Cavern Hole where Abbess Byrony was hosting an elders meeting. "Mudder Abbess! There bes strange beasties at da gate! come quick."
The Abbess excused herself from the meeting to follow the young otter out to the gate. She opened it a bit ond once she saw the hares opened the gate fully for them. "Welcome friends, What brings you to our abbey?"
Major Dagwood answered, "My daughter Clarice will be arriving soon with that one's father." He pointed at Rose.
"Oh my, where did she find him?"
"She didn't have to look. He came to her on his own accord. He's quite the ugly fellow though. Big with only one eye and lots of scars. I have no idea what she sees in him."
"I see. Well you and your hares are welcome to stay as long as you like. Lunch will be served out in the orchard."
The Major nodded and began towards the abbey building with his regiment. As Scarum passed Rose he gave her a look of disgust and then kept moving with the other hares. Rose hid behind the Abbesses robes. "What's wrong Rose?" she asked.
"I know dat wabbit. He tooked me away fwom my mum. Dey taked her away!"
"Hush Rose, Your mother is on her way her and guess who she has with her."
"Who?"
"Your father!"
"My fader? I no have a fader, only a mum."
"Well thats what the Major said. we'll just have to wait and see. Hey, where's Renji?"
"Up on da battlemints."
"Oh my goodness! Let's get him down befor he falls!" They raced up the wallsteps and retrieved little Renjji who was pretending to fight vermin and was leaning perilously over the parapets. When they were back on the ground Rose told him about the hares and her mother coming back with a stranger who claimed to be her father. Renji took little interest in this considering he had no parents.
Back on the ship...
"I was born on this ship, but I never knew my mother. Shortly after I was born she left me and my father for some Galedeep fellow. My father and his crew raised me. He was the captain before me, bless his soul. I don't remember much about my childhood except that I got into a lot of mischief with Jem and Dano. When my father passed on he left the ship and it's crew to me. Being a young captain I sought a lot of advice from Jenner who was a bit more experienced. Anyways i continued my fathers legacy of killing vermin and sinking their ships, but I also decided to do something new. I decided to take my crew ashore to free enslaved woodlanders. Willow was from one of those rescues along with her brother. Yup life was good and I thought it would get even better when I met you, but that night everything went downhill. When you had just fallen asleep I was close to doing the same when I heard the door open. When I looked over nobeast was there so I lay back and closed my eyes. No sooner had I done that when i felt something pressing against my neck. When I opened my eyes Scarum was standing over me with his sword at my throat. He motioned for me to get up and I did. I had just put my trousers on when he prodded my between my shoulderblades to get me out into the hall. There he bound my paws together and and kept that blade between my shoulders until we were outside. Thats when he said to me, "You have five seconds to leave before I start to come after you. If I catch you near Clarice again I will kill you." but me being who I am decided to fight him once he cut my bonds. That turned out to be a big mistake. He fought like a madbeast he did. He knocked my dagger out of my reach and cut me down. Before I blacked out I saw him walk away leaving me there to bleed to death. Then the next thing I knew I was on my ship and Willow was stitching up my wound. It hurt the most when she washed away the blood with salt water. My gosh that stuff burned. The pain wouldn't subside even after she had put a healing salve on me and bandaged my chest. Later my body couldn't take it anymore and I passed out from the pain. Once I was fully healed I came to see you."
"Can I see what he did to you?"
"Are you sure?"
She nodded. Nathaniel pulled off his shirt and Clarice stared at his chest in horror. There was a long thick scar that ran from his shoulder across his chest and ended at the top of his hipbone. Tears ran down her face. "How could he do this to you?"
"It was easy for him to hurt me because he hates me."
Clarice threw her arms around his neck and sobbed into his chest. Nathaniel held her close to him and tried to calm her but when that failed he decided just to hold her and let her cry. He could tell that all these tears weren't just for him. They were for Rose and for being betrayed by someone she thought she could trust.
When Clarice's tears began to slow she sat up away from Nathaniel and wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her tunic. "I was abandoned by my mother when I was only days old. When Dagwood found me he was assigned the role of my surrogate father. At first I think he was happy to have me ,but when I began to get older he seemed to lose interest. Since I was still young I was very curious and often had the tendency to go exploring in the mountain. I always seemed to end up in a place that I shoudn't be in. When this happened Dagwood would get real angry and yell at me. One time he even hit me. Then he wouldn't speak to me for days. Eventually I stopped wandering and kept to myself in my room with only Bescarum for company. He was the one I thought I could trust the most, but I guess I was wrong. Being an otter I was denied many privileges. One of them was being a member of the long patrol. I tried for many seasons to get them to let me join and eventually Lord Brang gave in and made me a scout. On my very first mission I met you. After my mission when we had been back at Salamandastron for a while I found out that I was going to have a child. I only told Scarum because we were going to be going on a mission soon. While travelling the time came for Rose to be born. Luckily we were very close to Redwall and we got there in time. After having Rose I didn't want to leave Redwall, but after a season a group of hares, including Dagwood, came to take me back by force to Salamandastron. I refused to go easily and one of the hares knocked me out. The next thing I knew was that my paws were bound behind me and two hares were carrying me. I tried to fight but they held me down. I gave up knowing I wouldn't win. Back at the mountain I was constantly being watched by the hares that worked in secret for dagwood. When you arrived I was secretly happy because I knew I would be able to get away from the hares for a while."
Nathaniel pulled her back into a loving embrace and said, "I will never let them hurt you again."
Clarice kissed him hard and was glad that he kissed back. She broke the kiss and said, "I love you."
Nathaniel kissed her again.
== Chapter Nine ==
"Land Ho! There's the river!" Dano yelled down from the crowsnest. A cheer came from the crew below and Jenner went to go wake the Captain. He opened the door to Nathaniel's cabin and went over to the bunk. Upon seeing Clarice in the captain's arms he walked right back out of the cabin and quietly shut the door behind him. Jem came running up to him and asked, "Is he coming out?"
"Don't disturb him. He'll wake on his own." Jenner replied cooly.
"But Jenner he would want to supervise as the ship turns into the river." Jem protested.
"I said not to disturb the captain. That's an order Mr. Halloway."
Jem stormed off angrily back to the upperdeck to steer the ship. Jenner stood there and whispered to the wind, "Oh Andrew, your son has grown so much. you would be very proud of him. I think it is time."
Nathaniel awoke to find Clarice sitting on the floor digging through her pack. "What're you doing?" he asked.
She pulled out a light blue dress. "I'm going to get dressed. Now leave so I can change."
Nathaniel got up and left the cabin. He saw his first mate talking to a few other crewmembers and went over to him and said, "Morning Jenner, Has anything new occured?"
"Yes, Dano has spotted the river and i'm making sure everyone is ready to turn into it."
"Good. Is Jem ready?"
"Yes sir. also Nathaniel i'd like to talk to you for a moment. Come with me."
Nathaniel followed Jenner belowdeck. Jenner went over to his bunk and pulled a small box out from underneath it. He blew the dust off and gave it to Nathaniel. "What's this?" He asked.
"Open it."
He opened the box and saw what looked like a bunch of junk. He rummaged through it with his paw and felt something cold and metalic. He pulled out an old revolver. He set the box on a small table and examined the gun. It had the Danisham seal engraved upon it. "This was his wasn't it? Why didn't dad give me this earlier?"
"He said to wait until you were ready. I believe that you are ready now."
Nathaniel stuck the revolver in the sash around his waist and began rummaging through the box again. There were a few love letters that were written to his mother, a small velvet pouch filled with bullets, polished shells, gold dablunes, and at the bottom of the box was something wrapped in pale blue satin. He picked it up and unwrapped it. It was a beautiful silver ring with tiny emeralds and sapphires set into it to look like waves. Nathaniel stared at the ring, it was much too small to have been his fathers and it definitely wouldn't fit him. "That was supposed to be your mothers." Jenner said. "She left before your father could ask her to marry him."
Nathaniel slipped the ring into his pocket and put everything else back in the box. "Thank you for keeping this stuff for me, Jenner. I hope you know that you were like a second father to me."
Jenner smiled. A rare sight to see. "I know. Now go back above and make yourself look like a captain."
He looked down at himself and realized that he didn't have a shirt on and his trousers were terribly wrinkled. He also hadn't bothered to put his boots on either. He took the box with him and was about to knock on the door of his cabin when Clarice opened it. There she stood wearing that blue dress. It had medium length sleeves and a low cut front. She had combed her fur and had tiny silver ear rings that looked like water droplets. She looked beautiful. "What are you staring at?"
Her voice brought Nathaniel back to reality. He blushed, "Uh..Nothing. I'm going to get some different clothes on."
He went into his cabin and locked the door. Clarice giggled and went to go find Willow.
Nathaniel came out dressed in his full captains attire. Black leather seaboots, black trousers, red sash, white shirt, black frock coat, cutlass and black trihorn hat. He went up to the upperdeck where Jem was. "Are you ready to turn into the river?" Asked Nathaniel.
"Of course. Why do you want to steer?" the blonde furred otter replied.
Nathaniel shook his head. "No I trust you to get my ship into that river safely."
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Just as the prow past the riverbank Jem turned the wheel as hard as he could to the left. The ship lurched sharply and nathaniel had to grab the railing to keep himself from falling overboard. when most of the ship was in the river Jem started to steer back to the right to straighten it out into the river. Once they were sailing smoothly again Willow came up to the main deck from her galley covered in something she had been cooking. "Jeremy Halloway!" She screamed. "I swear I will throw you overboard for doing that!"
Jem ducked behind the wheel. "Why did you let me steer the ship?"
"Oh come on I don't think she's serious."
"My wife dosn't make idle threats. When she says something she means it."
"At least you can swim."
"Ha. Ha."
Nathaniel went down to the main deck to find Clarice. He found her sitting on the bowsprit. He walked out and sat beside her letting his legs dangle in the air. "How far are we from the ford?"
"Not far. Just keep going."
By mid afternoon they made it to the ford and anchored the ship. Rigg's two sons, Mast and Boom, volunteered to stay and guard the ship with Willow's brother August. August was tall and thin with long sinewey muscles. Canvas wanted to stay with his brothers to help guard the ship, but Rigg wouldn't hear of it. He ended up having to hold Canvas so he wouldn't run back to the ship. As the crew walked along the path to the Abbey they tied to keep a happy mood by singing comical ditties. Nathaniel even joined in with them.Clarice had to admit that he had a strong berritone voice. They kept singing and marching and before they knew it they had made it to Redwall.
Two hares were posted on the walltops and when they heard the otter went rushing down to open the gate for them. Clarice entered followed by the sea otters. The Abbess was there to greet them and told them that she had sent some other redwallers to set up a makeshift sleeping area in Cavern Hole for the otters. As they were walking into the Abbey building the Abbess whispered to Clarice, "I had a seperate room saved for you and the captain."
"Thank you mother abbess. I'll let him know."
"No, don't trouble yourself dear. i'll let him know."
Clarice nodded and went upto the room where she lay down on the soft bed still dressed in her day clothes.
Being a mouse the Abbess was tiny standing next to Nathaniel who was tall even for a sea otter. She told him about the room and he thanked her and said that would be up after he knew his crew was settled in.
Later Nathaniel went up to the room and sat down on the bed beside Clarice who was already fast asleep. He stroked her headfur softly and leaned over to kiss her forhead. He got up and plopped down in an overstuffed armchair and swiftly fell asleep.
The next morning Clarice found a note scrawled in neat handwriting saying that Nathaniel had gone down to breakfast. Clarice went down to breakfast and saw Nathaniel sitting with his crew. She sat at the end of a table and grabbed a plate and began piling it with food. As she was eating Triss, the squirrel recorder came to sit by her. "It's been so long since i've seen you!"
Clarice smiled at her friend, "The same to you Triss, Hey I haven't seen skipper yet. Where is that crazy riverdog?"
All the happiness drained from Triss' face. "He's dead."
"What?"
"Skipper is dead. Marina did give birth to a son, but she didn't make it. Skip told Sister Violet to take the babe so he could be alone with Marina for a while. When nobeast was there Skipper killed himself. Drove his own dagger through his heart he did."
"I can't beleive he'd do such a thing."
"Neither did we. He must have made up his mind while watching her die."
Clarice nodded sadly. "Triss, have you seen my daughter this morning?"
"Yes, she was out playing with some other dibbuns."
Clarice sprang up from the table and ran outside. Nathaniel saw her and was quickly on his feet and running after her. Being trained by the long patrol Clarice was much faster than the average otter. As she rounded the corner of the abbey building she saw her. Rose.
All of a sudden Rose stopped playing and stared at that all too familiar face. She ran as fast as she could toward the female otter in the blue dress yelling, "Mommy!"
Clarice ran and embraced her daughter tightly. Tears springing to her eyes. "My baby Rose! Oh how i've missed you!" She relaxed her embrace and took a good look at her daughter. "Look at how big you've gotten."
"Mommy you came back!"
"Yes, I did." She kissed Rose's little head.
Nathaniel came panting and out of breath around the corner. "Clarice why did you..." He stopped mid sentence as he saw the tiny ottermaid in Clarice's arms. He went over to Clarice and knelt beside her on the grass. Rose gasped when she saw the big sea otter and buried her face in her mother's bosum. "It's alright Rosie. He wont hurt you. Rose this is your father, Nathaniel Danisham."
Rose peeked up at him with her huge brown eyes and shyly asked," Are you really my fader?"
"Yes. You have no idea how long i've waited to see your pretty face."
Rose smiled softly. Clarice handed her to Nathaniel. He was at a loss for words as he held his daughterfor the first time. She was so small and soft and seemed so fragile. He held her close and asked, "How old are you?"
She held up six tiny claws. "I bes six seasons old!"
"Six seasons. My gosh you're almost half grown!"
Clarice smiled at them both. The two most important things in the world to her were finaly together with her.
Later that day as they ate lunch in the orchard Nathaniel went on a walk with Clarice through the fragrant and blooming fruit trees. "Clarice, there's something I have to ask you." said Nathaniel.
"What is it?"
He reached into his pocket and closed his paw tightly around the ring and took a deep breath. He got down on one knee and took Clarice's paw in his. His big brown eye looked lovingly up at her. "I know we still have a lot to learn about each other, but....Oh Clarice Consfortingtam will you marry me?"
Clarice smiled and bobbed her head up and down excitedly. "Yes!"
Nathaniel stood up and pulled her into a warm embrace. He pulled out the ring and put it on one of her claws. She stared at the ring with awe. "It's beautiful! Where did you get this?"
"It was supposed to be my mother's, but she left before she could wear it. My father kept it along with some other things for me."
Clarice kissed his cheek. "If your father was anything like you i'd say he deserved someone better than her anyways.Who did she leave him for?"
"My father never told me."
"Oh, well let's get back to the table. They're probably wondering where we went."
Nathaniel nodded and they walked back paw in paw back to where eveyone else was eating lunch. What the two lovers failed to notice was that Bescarum Whippscutt had been eavesdropping on them and had gone back the opposite way to report back to Dagwood.
When Clarice went to go put Rose to bed Nathaniel went to see the Abbess in her study. He told her about the engagement and the Abbess agreed to marry them before they left Redwall.
The next day Nathaniel awoke before dawn and decided to go for a walk around the grounds. when the sun was just coming up he went to the pond and dipped his footpaws in the cool water. He laid back on the bank and closed his eyes letting the rising sun warm his fur. "Good marrow Captain. What are you doing up so early?"
Nathaniel opened his good eye and saw Major Dagwood standing beside him. "I could ask you the same thing Major Consfortingtam. I know that you wouldn't talk to me without a reason so what is it that you want?"
Dagwood smirked at him. "A smart one you are. I really must've missjudged you, wot."
Nathaniel stood up and put his boots on. "Get on with it Major."
"Anyways a little bird told me that you had asked my daughter for her hand in marriage. Is this true?"
"Aye, it is. Do you have a problem with that?"
Dagwood rubbed his mustache casually. "I'm afraid I do. You see she needs to come back with me to Salamandastron where she belongs. I will not allow her to live on a dirty ship with you seascum."
"We are not vermin! Call me what you like, but do not say a bad word about my crew. They are the most loyal beasts I have ever met."
"I'm sure." dagwood said sarcastically."Also I don't see how she loves that little sea spawn of yours. She seems to be quite a nuisence, wot."
Now Nathaniels blood began to boil. "Do not speak of my daughter that way rabbit!" He drew his cutlass and pointed it at the hare.
"I see that you have drawn your weapon. Does this mean you wish to fight me?"
Nathaniel growled at the overly smug hare. "Why not? You've already made me angry. Don't tell me that you're afraid that you'll lose to me rabbit!"
dagwood drew his long rapier. "Don't make me laugh. Me lose to you? Don't hold back you blinking rapscallion!"
"Don't worry, I wont." Nathaniel said dangerously.
And so the fight began.....
== Chapter Ten ==
Chapter 10
Crash! The two blades slammed against each other as Nathaniel charged the hare. His eyes had become a deep blood red. Bloodwrath red. Dagwood easily blocked the next attack, forcing Nathaniel towards the wallsteps which led to the belltower. The Major kept blocking and dodging the sea otter captain's blows and kept pushing him towards the steps. Nathaniel tripped backwards on the bottom step and landed on his back. Dagwood saw his oppertunity to strike and sliced Nathaniel's shoulder. He yelped in pain and quickly got up before the hare could take advantage of him again. Dagwood hadn't expected him to recover so fast and was surprised when the sea otter took off his ear with one swing of his cutlass.Dripping blood, Nathaniel ran up the wallsteps out of the hare's reach. Dagwood followed him. The captain ran into the belltower and after he was inside realized what a stupid mistake he had made. There was only one way out and Dagwood was blocking it. The hare was a fearsome sight with only one ear and the stub of the other and with dark crimsion blood running down his face. Nathaniel leaned against the stone wall and placed the paw that was still holding his cutlass over his shoulder to try and staunch the bleeding. His eyes were still red but were slowly fading back to brown as the pain of his wound overtook him. Dagwood took advantage of this and charged Nathaniel. He quickly blocked the attack, but he was also disarmed as his cutlass slipped from his paw which was slick with his own blood. The Major's rapier was suddenly at his throat. "Is that all you've got? I was expecting more from a captain." Dagwood said.
He pushed Nathaniel towards the window, but the sea otter caught himself on the window ledge before he fell out of the tower. The hare swung at him again and managed to cut a line across Nathaniel's cheek. Sticky hot blood ran down his face and dripped onto the cold stone floor of the tower. Dagwood lifted Nathaniel by his shirtfront. "You sicken me sea otter."
nathaniel spat in the hares face. "Good." He replied hoarsly as he pulled the revolver out of his waist sash and aimed the barrel of the gun at where the hares heart would be.
At that same instant Dagwood pushed him out the window.
Everything around the sea otter seemed to happen in slow motion. He felt suspended in the air as his claw curled around the trigger of the revolver. It seemed like an eternity as he pulled it back. Crack! At the sound of the gunfire everything returned to it's normal speed and now the sea otter captain was falling towards the pond below him. He had to fight to stay falling backfirst towards the water. Splash!
Nathaniel sank down in the pond and hit his head on a rock. In seconds everything in his vision went black.
Clarice ran out of Great Hall the instant she heard the gunshot. She got there just in time to see Nathaniel fall fast into the pond. Two of his crew that had followed her ran and dove into the pond after their captain. She ran to the edge of the pond. (Please let him be okay.) she prayed. The two crewbeasts hefted Nathaniel between them and hauled him up onto the grass. Clarice fell onto her knees beside him.
Nathaniel was unconscious and was bleeding from his shoulder and the back of his head. (What happened?) she thought. Clarice shook him. "Nathaniel, answer me. Come on you have to say something. Nathaniel!"
Little Sister Violet pushed her way through the crowd that had formed around the otters. When she saw Nathaniel she yelled, "Somebeast get a stretcher and take him up to the infirmary!"
Two moles came with the stretcher and the two crewbeasts lifted their captain onto it. The moles struggled with Nathaniels weight and were glad Rigg and another big otter offered to carry him for them. Clarice followed closely behind them. In the infirmary Nathaniel was transferred onto a cot. Sister Violet shooed Rigg and the other otter out of the infirmary and tried to make Clarice leave as well but she refused to budge.
The sister gave up and began tending to Nathaniel's wounds. Clarice sat beside the cot holding her love's paw tightly. Violet cleaned and dressed his head and shoulder wounds then put a light healing salve on his face where he had been cut. After that she left them alone. When she came back the Sister had a vial with her. "Whats that?" asked Clarice.
"Medicine. He needs to take this to help ease the pain."
She gave the vial to Clarice who set it on the nightstand. About an hour later Nathaniel stirred and groaned in agony. "Nathaniel can you hear me? Please say something."
He coughed. "Clarice..." He said faintly.
"Yes, I'm here."
His eyes opened and he ground his teeth together as he tried to push himself into a sitting position with his good arm. The infirmary sister pushed him back down again none to gently. "Don't you even try mister. You need to rest!"
Nathaniel glared at her. "I don't need no rest. I've suffered much worse than this."
"I don't think you realize that you just fell out of the belltower."
"I didn't fall. I was thrown." He said.
Clarice looked terrified, "Who did it?"
Nathaniel caughed again and a bit of pond water came up. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and replied, "Major Dagwood Consfortingtam. I fought him."
Clarice couldn't beleive what she was hearing. "Why? Why does he want to ruin my life? First he takes me away from my daughter and now this!"
She buried her face in her paws and began to cry. Nathaniel reached out and placed his paw on her shoulder. she looked up at him. "He will never hurt you again. I made sure of it."
"You mean you killed him."
Nathaniel nodded.
While they were in the infirmary a few hares went up to the belltower and found Dagwood's lifeless body. The bullet had gone high and struck the hare in the head. penwtrating his skull. They brought the body of their fallen comrade down to the ground and began making arrangements for his burial. A few other hares went to clean up the blood before the young ones saw it. One even found Dagwood's missing ear.
Dano had gone back to the pond and saw something in the water. The dark furred sea otter dived in and swam to the bottom where the object was and retrieved it. When he was back up on the bank he realized that it was the captain's gun. He took it up to the infirmary and set it on the nightstand next to the vial of pain reliever. He saw that someone had found his cutlass and had cleaned it. The captain was asleep with Clarice curled up next to him on the edge of the tiny cot. He left quietly.
Later when Clarice awoke she got up and leaned down to kiss Nathaniel lightly. He surprised her when he pulled her back and kissed her hard. When they broke apart he said, "Don't worry about me. Just take care of Rose."
She nodded and began walking away. "Also Clarice, When that little mouse lets me get up be ready."
"For what?"
He smiled, "Our wedding."
She smiled softly back, "I'll be ready."
For the next few days life at Redwall went back to normal. The hares from Dagwood's regiment began their journey back to Salamandastron.
Nathaniel was forced to stay in bed for a whole five days before he could get up. And when he did get up he immediately told his crew to make sure everything was ready for the wedding. Clarice was being fussed over by a bunch of mousewives and Willow as they dressed her and made her look beautiful. In the infirmary Jenner was helping Nathaniel get dressed. It was difficult because his one arm was bandaged and in a sling so his shoulder wound wouldn't be disturbed. He was dressed in something similar to his captains attire, cream colored frock coat, white shirt, gold sash, cream pants, and soft brown leather boots. Later Willow came in and combed his fur and fixed some other minor details. He noticed that she was dressed in an orange sundress and had a tiger lily stuck behind one of her ears. It was a good look for her. When she was finished they went down to Great Hall which had somehow been transformed from a dining hall to a chapel.
White rose petals littered the floor causing the Hall to smell sweet. Everybeast was seated and mother Abbess stood at the front of the congregation. He felt awkward walking up the aisle and taking his place beside the abbess. He took a deep breath.The Abbess put a paw on his arm. "Don't be nervous." she whispered.
He nodded. Soon the doors opened and the congregation turned to look at the back. Rose came down the aisle carrying a basket full of gold flower petals. These she threw into the air and smiled as they fell around her. Nathaniel smiled fondly at his daughter, but his attention was soon turned to Clarice. She had on a white gown with shimmering gold embroidery and a crown of flowers on her head. She came to stand across from him. "you look amazing." He whspered.
"Thank you." she breathed.
The Abbess began the ceremony. It felt like forever standing up there exchanging vows and listening to the Abbess drone on and on, until finally she came to the end. "Do you Nathaniel James Danisham take Clarice Viktoria Consfortingtam to be your wife?"
"I do." He replied.
"And do you Clarice Viktoria Consfortingtam take Nathaniel James Danisham to be your husband?"
"I do."
"With all the power invested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Nathaniel leaned down to kiss her and their was a loud cheer from the congregation. Clarice smiled at him and slipped her arm through the one of his that wasn't bandaged. Together they walked back down the aisle smiling wide at each other.
The reception was held out on the grounds where there was much eating, drinking, dancing, and singing. Later in the evening when the festivities had died down a bit Nathaniel had gone on a walk with his bride. Jem, Willow, Jenner, Sister Triss, and Sister Violet sat on the wallsteps. Little Rose was asleep in Jenners arms. He had been assigned to take care of her for a while. Willow sat with her head on Jem's strong shoulder admiring the little ottermaid. She sighed. Jem looked down at her. "What's troubling you love?" He asked. She nodded towards Rose. "Oh."
He put his arm around her comfortingly. "Excuse me, Willow right? I noticed that you look sad. What's the matter dear?" asked Triss.
Willow sighed again and spoke, "It's nothing that you should worry about. It's more between Jem and I."
"Will, You can tell them if you want." He whispered in his wife's ear.
She looked down at her footpaws. "When I was a slave I was very sick and I would've died if Jem hadn't rescued me. I'm a lot better tan I was, but I still don't have very good health. For seasons we've wanted to start a family of our own, but I soon found out that I am unable to have a child. I was just thinking of how lucky Clarice is to have such a beautiful daughter."
Sister Violet spoke up. "Have you considered adopting? There's a young otter here that has no parents.They both died shortly after he was born. I'd say he's about five seasons old now."
Willow perked up a bit, "What is his name?"
"Renji Rapidbrooke, son of Marina and Skipper Rapidbrooke."
She looked up at Jem. He seemed to be considering the offer, then he looked at Will. She stared at him with those sea green eyes of hers as if begging him to say yes. "Alright. When can we see him?"
"Now if you wish."
The couple nodded and The sister went to fetch the young otter. Will looked hopefully at Jem. "We could have a son!"
"Lets meet him before we make any sudden descisions." Jem replied.
Sister Violet came back with Renji. He hurried up the wallsteps to where Willow and Jem sat. "I bes Renji. Sissy Vilet say ya wanna dopt me?"
Willow pulled him into a hug. "Of course we want to adopt you! Oh, you poor thing not having any parents. I'm Willow and that's Jem."
Renji's blue eyes stared at the blonde furred sea otter and his mate. They seemed nice and he had always dreamed of having parents. "I likes you. Whwen we leave da Abbey?"
Jem smiled at him. "Tomarrow morning."
The sea otter crew left the Abbey with happy hearts. And they were eager to get sailing again. The three guards greeted them cheerily and listened intently as Canvas relayed all of the evernts that had happened. Well sort of. He kinda exagerated a lot of it.
Renji and Rose were excited to explore the ship and were glad to get a full tour from Canvas as they sailed down the river moss towards the sea.
Late that night when Nathaniel had just crawled into bed, Rose came awake and went over to the bunk. She tugged on Nathaniel's shirtsleeve. "What is it? Do you realize how late it is?"
"Daddy I had a bad dream. Uh..can I sleep wiv you and momma tanight?"
He groaned and lifted her up onto the edge of the bunk with his good arm. She Crawled over him and Curled up between him and Clarice. Nathaniel rolled over onto his back and put an arm around his daughter. She yawned and closed her eyes. "I love you daddy." she said quietly.
The Danisham family slept soundly as the ship gently rocked and was brushed against the hull. They were heading for a peaceful life and the warm south islands.
Epilogue
3 seasons later....
The newborn sea otter babe snored softly as he slept. The tip of his pink tongue showing. His mother laid beside him on the bunk and had her arm on the other side of him so he wouldn't roll off. His father sat in a chair beside the bunk admiring his son. "He's handsome my dear." He said.
Clarice smiled up at him and said, "What are we going to name him?"
"Hmmm....how about Adrian?"
"I like it. A good strong name for him."
Suddenly the cabin door opened and Rose ran into the cabin. Nathaniel lifted her onto his knee so she could see the babe. Adrian was dark furred except for his left forepaw which was white. "He's cute, but I wanted a sister." said Rose.
Nathaniel laughed. "We can't control that Rosie."
Nathaniel stroked his son's fuzzy head. The babe opened his eyes and yawned. His eyes were a dark gray just like Clarice's. "What's his name?"
"Adrian."
Rose lost interest in her brother and hopped down from her father's knee. Clarice tickled Adrian's little belly and he squeaked delightedly. Nathaniel picked up his son and held him carefully in one arm. "I'll make a captain out of you Adrian. Someday this fine craft will be yours........"
Clarice drifted off to sleep as her husband preached to their son about the ship.
The End.
Category:A Tale of Two Rogues
Category:Complete