The Abbot tells D.R. and Leon about what Lily (and Caleb and Cynthia) did (A Redwall log)
RW Abbey: Abbot's Chambers
These are the rooms of Abbot Benar, They consist of a couple of rooms.
The largest room by far is the private sitting room. Tall windows look
out over the Gardens's of the abbey and beyond the Open Ground between
the cloister and the walls. It is a comfortable well lived in room with
chairs and tables, work desks, ornaments and books. A set of three
large armchairs are set up before the fire-place and there are
several large bookcases filled with tomes about the abbey and its
craft works.
Through a small door is Benar's bedroom, it is filled with antique
furniture and fittings and wood panels attached to the walls hide
the stone of the abbey. The single window is flanked by drapes of
thick velvet and though it appears like a rich room at first glance
it is quite simple otherwise. The bed is a single, functional frame
of wood with blankets and pillows and there is a small portrait of
Benar's mother Amarro as the only personal decoration in the room.
Exits: [Hall]way
Mice: Leon, male. DoraRose, female.
Squirrel: Benar, male.
[Benar] Is in his sitting room waiting for Dora and Leon, well he is standing by the fire place staring into the flames whilst waiting for the mice to arrive so he can talk to them. They've been back a few days now and well it is finally time they all talked.
Leon has checked on things in the infirm and then came to the abbot's room. It was most likely a good idea to wait a few days to get use to being back to the abbey. He now walks to the door and steps inside and clears his throat "Hello Abbot Benar"
DoraRose has been avoiding everyone as much as possible. She just needed a break from all the peoples. But she did get the Abbot's invitation, and now she walks down the hall towards his room. Spotting her husband enter the room, she calls out, "I'm on my way!" In a few moments, she, too, enters, smiling slightly. She has an idea of what this is all about, but she'll still smile a little in greeting.
Benar turns away from the fire and smiles at them, he walks over and hugs them both. "Welcome home my friends, please come in." he then shuts the door and turns the key in the lock and moves to the fire. "We have tea, and scones but I am afraid we have to talk about a lot of things."
Leon nods, he returns the hug "It is good to be back. We was able to use a boat to get back sooner and it helped with.....well there was very little trouble on the way home." There was trouble and oddly it was Leon who fixed it, yes that's a first.
DoraRose also accepts and returns the hug. "It's good to be back home," she breathes. Not one ot turn down free food, she looks for the scones. "Your note indicated trouble," she says, letting the Master Healer tell him about the trip. She sits down and crosses her legs.
Benar settles down in the chair and sighs, "Yes... a lot of trouble. I am afraid your daughter almost killed Cynthia," he looks from one mouse to the other, "Whilst under the influence of the blood rage. Your daughter confronted Cynthia about staying away from Caleb, she physically grabbed hold of Cynthia and when she pushed Lily away from her your daughter snapped." he takes a deep breath, "I was attempting to talk to Lilymoore about the situation when your brother stormed in and I am afraid we got into an argument and rather then gently breaking the news to your daughter it all exploded in my face." he sighs and shakes his head, "I have suspected for months now, as I think you have Dora that Lily was so afflicted. The lessons in the belfry, the books of famous heroes and how they dealt with it were all I had hoped a means to prepare her."
Leon listens, he has heard of blood rage some, "I heard of it but thought mainly badgers got it for the most part. I never seen it just heard of it from a badger spoken to" He frowns" That kind of thing can effect one's heath too...can't it, or least in some cases"
DoraRose had eaten half of her scone while listening very intently to what the squirrel has to say. Sighing, she gently places the remainder in her lap and stares at it. "Aye, I had been suspecting for seasons, actually. That's why I started her on some of the strength-building disciplines my father taught me; I was hoping they would increase her self-control, like they have mine." Sighing, she rubs her face with a paw. "The Bloodwrath has been in my family for generations, I'm afraid. I'm sorry for not telling anybeast; I was hoping I was wrong...or that her self-control would grow enough that it wouldn't be an issue." She looks genuinely sorry. "What did Cynthia do to our son?" The thing where Caleb and Cynthia left the Abbey happened after the Ambassadors had left for their trip to Salamandastron.
Benar sighs sadly and leans back in his chair, "I am afraid so Leon... it is not unheard of in other beasts. It is just very rare." he looks at DoraRose, "She didn't do anything, they are actually the best of friends. But when Cynthia joined us she was being co-erced by a vermin, he tricked her into returning to him. When she left the Abbey Caleb went after her rather then telling anyone and they both got captured. That particular vermin is dead and she is free. But Lilymoore seemed to blame Cynthia for everything, despite it being Caleb's choice to follow."
Leon listens and frowns a little at the capture part but it seems the two got away somehow, he stays quiet to listen for now.
DoraRose's eyes widen. "Areyouserious." She covers her eyes with a paw and takes a few deep breaths. ".....well. Do you know if she has talked to Caleb yet? Was he punished?" She lets her paw drop back down to her lap and looks at the Abbot. "Caleb rarely does anything wrong, so Lily seems to think that he's perfect. It is possible that it never occurred to her that he would do something wrong. How was he punished?" She pauses, then adds, "Lily told me that she is not longer allowed to ring the bells, but she seemed to be withholding something about your meeting." She is concerned about just punishments.
Benar sighs and looks into the fire-place, "Caleb was punished, I handed them both over to Lacota, they spent a lot of time in the kitchens making up for their foolishness." he picks up his tea cup, "And yes... I had to do something, pulling the bellringing was the best I could think of..." he looks into Leon's eyes then DoraRose's eyes. "There is precedent, abbey tradition for the punishment merited by such a violent assault on an abbey dweller. I don't think I could have ever actually brought myself to invoke it. But I had to impress on Lily how serious what she had done was."
Leon as been quiet ad listening, he has gotten tea and just now takes his first sip," I have an idea what it is...and only know of one other a while back that it was done with." Another sip of tea "I have not spoken with Caleb...or really Lilymoore much since we been back...least on what happen, Maybe Dorarose has I do not know. I do know Caleb and Cynthia are friends and Caleb mentioned Cynthia may be...well afraid of Lilymoore "
DoraRose gets a saucer and puts her scone on it. She does not like the Abbot's tone of voice. "I haven't really spoken with her much; I've been letting my grandmother keep track of her until her punishment of staying with Nana at all times was finished." She hesitates, dreading what the answer might be. "....what was the precedent that I feel I should thank you for ignoring?"
Benar says, "Banishment," he looks down into his tea cup, "I went through the records, this has happened at most... well very infrequently. The most famous time was when Veil Sixclaw was banished from the Abbey for attempting to poison several abbey beasts." He sighs and sets his tea cup down, "Your brother also didn't help matters, he barged in here and ruined my attempt to let Lily know what had happened. He is not.. the most rational beast.""
Leon nods" I am glad she was not bandished"
DoraRose stares open mouthed and wide-eyed at the squirrel. She is speechless for a few minutes. She really needs to read up on her Redwall history... "Aahreyouserious??" She finally manages to squeak out. She leans forward and rests her forehead on the desk. "Ungh......I don't how to help my brother......did you, like, tell Lily to keep that part a secret? The part about the banishment."
Benar says, "Yes I did tell her not to talk about it with anyone," he looks at DoraRose, "And I am very serious, if this went before the Elder Council to decide... I don't think I could carry it, thankfully they have left the matter to me to deal with. I dealt with it by summoning you, but if Lily loses control like that again... injures someone that badly. Or heaven forfend kills someone... I may have no choice." he looks at Leon, "As for Cynthia she is indeed terrified of Lily and Caleb well he is hardly speaking to his sister right now. He seems to think Lily over-reacted... I would ideally like to get Lily back in the belltower, ringing the bells gives her structure and focus. Now you are home and taking her in hand Dora that may be possible.""
DoraRose peeks up at the squirrel. "I will do all I can. My father taught me and my siblings many things to control ourselves; I will pass them on to Lily, step by step." She sits back up and sighs. Drawing her legs up to her chest, she rests her chin on her knees and wraps her arms around them. "I'm not sure my brother would go along with me if I tried to train him....." she picks up the scone, considers it, then sets it back down with another sigh. "My grandmother has started her journaling, which I hope shall help, also. It helps me.....do you have any suggestions?" She asks both of them. Leon is Lily's dad, so his advice is needed, too.
Leon speaks "I am unsure really. A private talk with Benar but make sure its not interrupted again."
Benar says, "I would be willing to talk with her of course, I would also consider returning her to bell ringer duties. The discipline and focus and energy required in that job are good for her focus I believe."
DoraRose nods. "What would be required of her before she can return to those duties?" She picks up the scone again and starts to eat it. "I agree that it helps improve her focus, as well as her overall mood. She's been very depressed, but maybe if I can give her some hope that she can earn those duties back, she'll start to feel better."
The abbot frowns, "I think... her training under you, a formal apology to Cynthia, Lacota and everyone else affected by it. A true and well meant one and I will then meet to discuss her bellringing duties."
Leon nods "That would be good if she can get back to Bell Ringer duties and maybe cheer her up some. I know Caleb is back at kitchen duties now..." He thinks a moment and adds "Maybe talk to Caleb also, he and his sister has not talked since what happen, partway cause her and Caleb been kept apart but I am not sure he wants to her when he is given the chance."
DoraRose furrows her brow, then pulls a journal (of course!) and a charcoal pencil out of her apron pocket. Opening the book to a blank page, she writes down the names listed. "Other than those beasts, who do you think she should apologize to?" She purses her lips. "We should have Caleb and Lily talk. It would probably be good for the both of them."
Benar thinks about this for a long moment, "I also think perhaps, an apology to everyone in the great hall? a chance to show everyone it was a terrible accident and won't happen again?" he stands up, "Think about it, if I think of anyone else I will let you know. You let me know when she is ready to come talk to me. But for now we should all go apart and think about how best we can help Lily.
Leon nods "Sounds like a good plan Abbot Benar. Maybe at one of the meals a sorry to everyone"
DoraRose writes that down, too. "Thank you, Benar. We'll be sure to talk to Lily." Snapping her journal shut, she stands. Stuffing the book and pencil back into her pocket, she goes to take her husband's paw and lead him outside. "Let's go talk in the Rose Garden..." She says quietly. They have lots to talk about.
Leon nods and exits, letting the abbot do what ever it is he needs to do the rest of the day.
Thanks for reading!
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