Nov`e Comes Back

Date: Unknown, sometime prior to 2000

Location: Redwall: Cavern Hole

Characters: Althea, Nov`e

Nov`e moves quietly down the small staircase, a slight smile then a slight

frown as he moves nearer towards Althea. Moving to the table, he seats himself

as his eyes rest on the mousemaid. A slight glance to his paws, he keeps his

words to himself, awaiting perhaps the perfect moment.

The mousemaid is seated at one of the small tables, in fact, the same table

that Nov`e seats himself at. Her arms are folded on the tabletop, her head

rested down in her arms. Althea emits a slight, muffled sigh, and it seems

quite obvious that she is not in the best of moods.

Nov`e's eyes rest on Althea longly, a slight glance towards his paws once more,

speaking quietly. "When do you think we should get married?" As if he had been

here all this time, the question forms out of his mouth. He awaits Althea's

answer.

Althea's head whips up from her paws, disbelief on her face and also in her

voice. "Nov`e? Nov`e! Where did you go? Where have you been? Why didn't you

tell me you were leaving?" Her words spill out quickly, running together,

tripping over each other in their haste. Also in her voice, besides the

disbelief, relief and happiness -- and, a tad bit of...anger perhaps? -- can

also be clearly heard.

Nov`e remains to look at his paws, "An old friend came to see me. I had to take

care of a few things with him.. I'm sorry, I really should have. Why I didn't,

I just can't say.. I guess I really did it this time around.." Speaking softly,

he adds, "I'm sorry.."

"I-I-I was so worried!" Althea exclaims, not being able to decide whether to

make her expression angry, happy, or relieved, it remains a mixture of all

three. "I-I thought you might, might have left me! Or, or that you were hurt or

dead!"

"Left you? Never.. Hurt? Possibly not.. Dead? Bah, me die? That's an

understatement, I'd come back just to spite." A slight smile forming, though

quickly fading, Nov`e keeps his voice soft and almost pleading. "I'm sorry, I

should have told you... I must be stupid or something, I keep doing this and

every time I do, I just keep pushing you away..." A slight sigh, "I'm just

trying to be perfect for you, I deal with my past now, that way it's done with

and I'm all yours.."

Possibly calming down now, if just slightly, Althea takes a deep breath,

forcing out a smile. "I...I understand..it's alright...I..I am not angry with

your, nor am I any farther away from you than I was before. I said I'd always

love you, and I always will..." The smile turns genuine for a moment, then

fades. "I...I was just so -worried! I..I did not know where you were, when you

were going to return, -if- you were going to return.." Her voice trails off

into silence.

Nov`e looks off towards the wall a moment or two, a slight sigh before he speaks. "I have returned, and I promise to tell you where I am going next time. I keep no secrets from you, as I have told you what I have done.. My faults as you see, and I myself hate myself for these faults."

Now only pure relief and happiness showing on her expression, as all anger has

faded away at Nov`e's words. "No...do not hate yourself Nov`e. You have no

faults, at least, not from my point of view. I would not care if you were to

have faults galore, my heart is still yours... I am so happy you have

returned..." Heh.. obviously, it does not take too long for Althea's heart to

melt once more in Nov`e's presence.

Nov`e gives a slight sigh of relief most likely, "Ah, but I thought nothing but

of you as I was out in the muck and mire of the world. Only hating to be away

from the beauty I knew I will never leave..."

"I am so glad you are back..." Althea says, rephrasing her previous exclamation

of happiness. She herself emits a sigh, a happy one, so unlike her sighs of

recent. "When you leave again, I am going with you," she then states firmly, seeming to have already made up her mind about this.

Nov`e gives a slight nod, as though Althea could see this, "Hopefully, I won't

have to go, but of course, if you wish, than you may..." Not seeming to argue

much, as though he wasn't on thin ice as it was..

"And I do so wish, so if you ever leave again, I -am- coming." It seems that

perhaps she is enjoying this newly found power of hers...being able to make

Nov`e agree to anything. "And hopefully, if you ever do leave again, I will

have my sight back by then, so perhaps I will not be so much a burden."

"You a burden? Pah, not a chance, I'm the one that seems to be messing up.." A

slight glance to his paws, Nov`e soon trails off, a slight nod, "But of course,

you'll have your eyesight back, I'll be at your side and no worries.."

Althea also nods, smiling. "Yes...I'll have my sight back." The smile fades ever so slowly and she gives a slight sigh. "That is...if Melchior ever returns, he has been gone for a long time." Ooo, mental slap in the head, Althea, now Nov`e

will probably insist on going to look for the herb.

"Gone for a while he has?" Not wanting to push Althea's good mood tonight,

Nov`e keeps silent, though the plans cranking along in his head as his eyes

glance off. Well to one watching him, that's how it would appear.

Althea takes a deep breath...why did she have to remind him? Sure...she wants

her sight back, that is obvious...but...well... "Yes...well, I'm sure he will

return soon, though." Her voice holds a feigned cheerful tone, perhaps hoping

to dissuade Nov`e from going off after the herb, which is probably most likely

what he is thinking about.

Nov`e gives a slight sigh, a yawn to follow, "I am sorry my love, but I have

journeyed all day long, I feel worn out right now. I shall rest a bit, I have

about drifted off right now. Tomorrow then." Another yawn as he moves towards

Great Hall, glancing back to watch the mousemaid once more.