Beware of the Abbot, he has fire
RW Abbey: Cavern Hole
This room is slightly smaller than Great Hall, but still of a size large enough to accomodate a great number of gathered beasts. A large fireplace is set into one of the walls, and there are a series of small tables and chairs near one end for beasts who are eating late, or simply prefer the smaller tables for their meals. Cushions and blankets have been set in one corner. A short flight of steps leads up to Great Hall, and along the walls of the stairs, going both ways, the word 'Redwall' has been carved into the stone.
Exits/Entrances:
[G]reat [H]all
[Ki]tchen
It is cold outside and the great hall is in uproar still with the cleaning going on, the tapestry is still down and the stained glass windows are still being cleaned. So the abbot has escaped to the quiet warmth of Cavern Hold where he is sat before the fire staring into the flames.
Oz slowly comes into the room with some mint tea. He walks over to the fireplace and tilts his head before giving a greeting "Greetings Benar, someone mentioned you may of came in here, would you like some mint tea? I usually drink some this time of day while Sister Ginny has writing class with the dibbuns"
Angela enters from the kitchen, having gone in there from the outside to avoid all the nutty cleaning going on in Great Hall. She stumps over to the fireplace, still wrapped up in cloak and scarf and mittens and hat. She nods to the male beasts, then stands in front of the fire, leaning heavily on her staff, silent for now. She's too cold to talk.
Benar smiles at Oz, "I would love some mint tea, I never realized the tapestry was so dusty! Brother Rober's team have been dusting it for two days now." He takes a cup from Oz then smiles at Angela, "Ah Angela, how is the infirmary?"
Oz tilts his head as Angela enters, "Angela...Greetings." Well it is a good thing there is more tea in the kitchens in case Angela wants some as well. He has a passing novice bring an extra cup, just in case. "It will look very nice once it’s down I am sure Benar"
Angela pulls the scarf from around her nose and scoots a little closer to the hearth. "Not bad. Not too full, but we do 'ave some beasts in there. Like the Ferravale Master 'Ealer. Miss Blisa's in there with 'im. I left Nissaya in charge while I came down 'ere. Our 'erb supplies are still good." She begins to unwrap her winter wear. "And ye, Abbot? 'Ow's the rest o' the Abbey? I don't envy ye, Oz. I wouldn't want to be in charge of that little load o' Dibbuns..."
Benar exclaims, "I do hope so, it was hard enough to get off the wall as it was! I may have bene a little bit ambitious in wanting to clean it before the feast." He smiles at Angela, "The abbey she is well, the kitchens are suffering a little bit due to our Friar and his beloved being distracted with wedding plans but you know how engaged couples get before their wedding. Now Angela as I have you down here can we talk about Caleb?"
Oz sits down close by and lets them talk. He will join in if needed
Angela it’s down as she pulls off her mittens. "Aye, cleanliness is a virtue." She leans back in the chair and sighs wearily. "Aye, we can and we may. I've been wishin' my Rose and Leon were 'ear to deal with 'im; Lily is afraid of what she'll say to 'im, so she's been avoidin' 'im, which I don't like, but I'm not their mother."
Benar says, "Well that is part of it, I need to speak to Lilymoore too," He shakes his head and coils his tail around his ankles, "But that can happen later, right now I need to talk to you about what he did. I was going to suggest him for the rank of Brother at my feast but now... after his severe lack of judgement I think he needs to be a novice for quite a bit longer."
Oz sips his tea as he speaks up "You may want to speak with Cynthia as well. I heard her and Caleb were arguing few days ago in the orchards, I do not know of what. I know both seem to be doing chores as they are supposed to..far as I know"
Angela sighs and nods. "Aye, I agree. He needs to mature and grow up a bit more before he becomes anythin' more than a Novice." She reaches for a cup of tea. "I wonder what makes Cynthia act that way, y'know? Most young'uns act in a horrible manner 'cause they 'ate themselves and are tryin' to see if they're right and should be 'ated.....it's so difficult to not treat them like ye wish them ill...."
Benar sighs and peers into his tea, "Cynthia is scared, terrified I will change my mind and throw her out, terrified that rat will re-appear or some other vermin to force her into slavery again." He shakes his head, "I hope she will grow out of it."
Oz says, "What I still do not know is why Caleb followed her when she ran away. I gave him a rather long lecture on dangers of running away and why not to. He said he wanted to talk her into coming back. I cannot tell if she feels welcomed here or not"
Angela stares hard at the squirrel. "Ye don't ever grow out of fearin' that ye'll be a slave again. Trust me. I know." She pulls her right sleeve to her elbow, revealing scarring around her wrist. "I've been here for a few seasons, and I still wake up at night, terrified that somebeast'll come in 'ere and take me away from my family again. Ya never outgrow that." She sighs and pulls her sleeve back down to her knuckles. "I didn't know that she was a slave at one point. I need to leave the Infirm more....."
Benar looks up at Angela and shakes his head, refusing to back down from her hard stare, he lifts the sleeves of his robes revealing the red metal armbands, "This was my collar once Angela," He stands up then setting aside his cup, "You do not forget being a slave but allowing the fear to rule you leads to pain, anguish, bitterness, you must embrace that yes you are scared of being a slave again. But never let it pull you down, never let it crush your spirit, you are free and shall always be free. They could collar me again right now, beat me, torture me but I will always be free. The fear does not rule me and never shall, you outgrow letting it control you and fuel the fire in your heart, the fire of freedom. Perhaps you should leave the infirmary more often and use that fear in the night to fuel your love of being free and shine Angela." He bows to her, tucks his hands into the sleeves of his robes and moves off toward the stairs.
Darkwatcher arrives just in time to hear the last few lines of Benar's powerful oratory. He blinks, then shrugs. His wounds from the journey here a few days ago have healed, but his arm is still a little sore and he rubs it absentmindedly as he descends the stairs.
Oz listens quietly as Benar speaks and listens as he walks off and someone else walks in. He hmmms softly as it’s not too much he has heard Darkwatcher, but he might know the voice if he speaks.
Angela stares oddly at the squirrel, then gets a slightly frightened look on her face, which she quickly suppresses. Looks like there's more than just ordinary fear going on in her mind. She shakes her head and stiffly stands. "I...I think I need a walk...."
Benar turns to regard Angela and offers her a warm smile, "My door is always open Angela, come talk to me when you are ready and I will aid you in anyway I may. It is why I am here," He turns to Darkwatcher then and smiles, "Should you be out of bed? Or do I have to set Angela on you?"
Oz speaks "Ah, it is Darkwatcher who has entered the room"
Angela nods a little numbly as she heads to the kitchen. "Aye, I'll......I'll keep that in mind. I'll.....I'll let Lily know ye want to speak to 'er." And she hobbles out to try and make the Terrors of her mind go away in by being in solitude.
Benar watches Angela leave and sighs softly, "I will get through to that stubborn old mouse one day..." He turns back to Darkwatcher and smiles, "Well come over to the fire, we have tea and... Flicktail is away with Magramba on a mission for myself."
Darkwatcher nods once. "Gotcha." He joins Benar and Oz by the fire. "Don't suppose you can tell me where they're going? If there's still time to catch up with 'em that is."
Oz speaks "It is a mission for just him and Magramba I believe. I am sure they will be back safe"
Cynthia peeks into the room quietly and starts to slowly enter it, as quietly as she can in fact.
Benar looks into the fire for a long moment, watching something in there then shakes his head, "Sorry Darkwatcher, Martin says you are not seen joining them. So I cannot tell you where they have gone, besides they are far beyond your reach right now."
Sighing, Darkwatcher accepts this. Even if he doesn't put his faith in Martin and other such spirits that beasts refer to, he recognizes the profound impact that believing in them appears to have. "Thanks anyhow." He tries to think of another topic of conversation, and fails.
Oz sips his tea, he hmms softly as not much escapes his hearing and so the young mouse most likely can't sneak in too well, he decides for now not to greet Cynthia, least yet.
Benar hasn't seen Cynthia either as he is focused on Darkwatcher, "How did you get injured? No one explained that to me?"
Cynthia looks over at the fox and frowns as she moves a little more into the room. She also watches Oz and Benar quietly and goes to sit in one of the soft chair in the room.
Benar frowns, "It seems to me there is much more trouble on the path then there ever used to be. I wish we could make the passage safe between Redwall and the town."
Cynthia frowns, "I don't like Ferravale...." She speaks as she may as well, they will know she is there some time anyways.
Oz speaks "I would suggest not going anywhere alone if one goes to Ferravale or elsewhere on the road"
Darkwatcher shrugs. "Ain't much trouble as long as you go with a group. Gotta remember, most of the lowlifes just prey on those who seem weak." Unlike me, he thinks to himself. I prey on those who deserve it. "Or you could dig a tunnel," he says half-jokingly.
Benar says, "Indeed Cynthia it isn't sensible to go near Ferravale on your own. I certainly never do so."
Cynthia frowns "I was there..and the chieftain doesn't like me." She shakes her head and folds her arms over her chest "And..and I don't like him either"
Oz says, "It has been a long while since I have been even near there, then I rarely leave the abbey for anything, unless it's important"
Darkwatcher blinks. "Scioto ain't so bad. He's okay once you get to know him. Why doesn't he like you anyhow?" He leans back in his seat.
Benar says, "The Chieftain only had a problem with the rat who had enslaved you Cynthia not yourself. So please do not worry about that."
Cynthia frowns, and shrugs, “Someone said the rat died, who knows maybe they lied...then not like I will try and find out. I am at the abbey for now"
Benar says, "You are safe here and welcome Cynthia," He smiles at her, "You really are safe here within our walls."
Cynthia looks up at Benar "I...well maybe but I don't know how many want me here, they just seemed more upset at me coming back and always having me do chores or making sure I do chores or get upset cause I cause snow to fall on their heads in the orchards"
Benar says, "Chores are just a way of life here Cynthia, people are more upset that you ran away then that you came back. We are all very glad you came home safely."
Darkwatcher stands up now, stretching and yawning. "Better go let the Infirmary know I haven't killed anyone..." Or, in other words, go back to bed. He heads off, nodding a farewell to Benar, then to Oz and Cynthia even though the badger wouldn't be able to tell.
Oz can still hear the fox walk off.
Cynthia asks, "Home? I am unsure of weather this is home or not and I have more shores than others and yeah I know it’s a..punishment. I also find it hard to be in class and they don't understand"
Benar shakes his head, "Classes are only hard if you make them hard Cynthia, if you do not understand something ask, if you need additional help ask your teacher to explain things out side of class."
Cynthia sighs "I..I can't read and when I try it doesn’t always make since to me. I can count and copy letters but.."
Oz clears his throat" I am sure beasts here can help you, maybe Sister Ginny"
Benar shakes his head, "Reading takes time Cynthia, your teachers known you need help. Now you have told Oz and I we can see to it you get extra help with the reading."
Cynthia asks, "What if younger beasts laugh at me? It’s odd for someone not to know how to read, well when they aren’t really a dibbun still"
Benar says, "Cynthia, I didn't know how to read when I first came here, no one laughed at me, they helped me to read. Flicktail couldn't read, we helped him, lots of beasts do not learn to read until they are older."
Cynthia says, "I..never learned, even when I was with my..parents" She frowns now," But I lost them cause....and maybe that’s why I find it hard to trust others like..like Flicktail, keep thinking it’s some mean trick to say I am a friend, its..hard"
Benar says, "Yes I know you lost your parents Cynthia, I am sorry you lost them but not all vermin are the same Cynthia. Not everyone is like that." He walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder.
Cynthia frowns as she just lets some tears flood down her cheeks. It is going to be hard for her to trust, more so with any vermin species inside the abbey ever.
Oz sits aside his tea cup as he listens, he will let Benar talk to the young mouse for now. He is called a way to deal with some mischief making dibbuns.
Benar squeezes Cynthia's shoulder and the hugs her, "I know it hurts Cynthia, but here you are safe and free. Do not fear the rat, do not fear being a slave... look at your fears and let them fuel the fire of freedom in your heart. You are free and no one can ever enslave you if you do not let them."
Cynthia allows the hug and sniffs. It’s not clear if she is understanding his words or not, right now she just decides then and there she needs a good cry. Sometimes a good cry can strangely help one feel better and move forwards and maybe this will help her as well.
Benar lets her cry and squeezes her, smiling, "You are safe and welcome here Cynthia, please do stay with us... now dry your eyes and let us see about a reading lesson. a private one just you and me"
Cynthia nods as she dries her eyes and slowly follows the abbot to where they can have a reading lesson in peace.
