The Afternoon Gives Way To New Friends And Returning Friends....

The abbot speaks with Cynthia at the beginning of the log and then some friends return from a long trip at the end of the log

RW Abbey: Great Hall

The Great Hall of Redwall Abbey. Countless paw falls have echoed from these stones, and untold numbers of feasts and merry gatherings have been held here. A table, not nearly so grand or large as its predecessors, but quite functional for mealtimes, rests near the center of the hall. Chairs exist here aplenty, and they are all of a matching set. High above, the stain glass windows give the Great Hall a beautiful appearance. The glasswork is exceptionally done, crafted by a skilled artist. The floor is clean and swept. A fire is kept burning in the fireplace at almost all times of the day and night, and there are several more comfortable chairs and cushions set up here, of varying sizes. One looks large enough to easily accommodate a badger.

The Tapestry hangs proud and tall, and while the rest of Redwall may still bear the scars of natural disaster, this most famous of Redwall's relics remains unharmed by beast, time, or the elements. The figure of Martin the Warrior seems to be watching over his own with an unchanging, kindly gaze.

Soft light is slowly beginning to filter in through the stained glass windows high above your head.

Exits: Abbey's [Li]brary, [K]itchen, [C]avern [H]ole, [B]reezeway, [En]try, [Stairs]

Contents:

a message (board) with notes tacked to it

Cynthia is right now sitting in a chair reading a simple book. She has gotten better at reading than she was but is still not at a level that some her age is usually at, but she is getting there.

Benar walks in from outside, shaking out his cloak and looking around the hall. When he stops Cynthia he starts walking toward her, "Cynthia my dear how are you?"

Cynthia looks up from her book. “I am doing ok just doing some reading; it’s easier now to read than it used to be"

Benar asks, "Well I am glad to hear it Cynthia, how have you been doing since you left the infirmary? I've not had time to catch up with you before now."

Cynthia answers "I have been..fairly well. Sort of stayed in my room for the first week then ventured out and got back into music lessons." She smiles a little "Music helps me feel better and its one thing I would not want to give up"

Benar sits down next to Cynthia, "I am glad Oswald has been able to help you, he says you have been coming along greatly."He smiles at her, "And I hear Caleb and you are still good friends despite what his sister did... I wanted to talk to you about her if that is ok?"

Cynthia smiles a bit more when he mentions Caleb, she then frowns slightly at the mention of Lilymoore "What...about her? I have not seen her since the day outside."

Benar says, "I know she has been stuck with her Grandmother working out a suitable punishment. I wanted to ask if you would let her come and apologize to you for what she did?"

Cynthia shrugs, "I.....don't know, would she mean it? Would someone be with her or would she be by herself?"

Benar says, "You would not be alone, It'd be with me and her parents and several other abbey beasts. And she would mean it. She is very sorry for what she did and she does want to make amends."

Cynthia nods "I would let her talk and probably see in how she acts if she truly means she is sorry or not. I do admit I will check a room before I enter it, guess I bit..afraid maybe"

Benar says, "I heard you are still afraid of her and well I do not want this to be a thing. No one in Redwall should be afraid of anyone." He holds out a hand to her, "I should also explain why Lily lost control like that. it doesn't excuse what she did but I am hoping if you know it will help you to understand."

Cynthia listens "Alright..what was it a misunderstanding? Something she didn’t like about..my past before living here"

Benar asks, "I have to ask you to keep this to yourself for now, but Lily suffers the Bloodwrath, you may have read about it in books? Great warriors possessed by a rage they cannot control?"

Cynthia says, "I...have not heard of it and I wouldn’t tell anyone else. Maybe she could try..ummm meda..meda...oh" She frowns and trys again "Mediation..someone told me it helps with stress sometimes"

Benar says, "Her mother is back now and is going to be helping her control it. but she lost control and she was unaware that she suffered from it. We all were it is our hope we can all help Lily to deal with it."

Cynthia says, "I..I would like to help. well maybe..I don't know if she can be a friend or not. I don't have many friends just Caleb and there is this new dibbun I have gotten along with, he seems to like to climb trees in the orchards." She frowns "He scared me the first time I saw him but he said he was sorry"

Benar says, "Well I think she would like to make up for what happened. I am sure if we all work together we can help you all to become friends."

Cynthia smiles "Friendship is important, everyone needs a friend I think or least someone who understands them whoever that may be"

Benar says, "Friends are one of the things that help to keep the whole world going"

Cynthia nods to this "That’s true, without friends one would be...lonely and in all the stories beasts had friends to help them out trips and even everyday stuff"

Benar asks, "Well Cynthia we'll see how it goes in a few days, now why don't you tell me what are you reading?"

Cynthia smiles “Its some history of the abbey. Like it was built with the help of Martin the warrior and it's said he sometimes even appears as a ghost in dreams or face to face in times of need. I am unsure how one could do that but it’s still neat he helped build the abbey and from stone in this quarry not far from the abbey"

Benar says, "Well that is good, it is an important thing to hear about the history of the Abbey and how we have risen to the stat we are in now."

Xander slowly makes his way down the stairs and stops near the bottom as he is still leary of most beasts here and has talked to very few yet.

Cynthia says, "Well yeah it’s just neat I wonder how long it took to build, a season or more most likely and the pond someone said was a lake long seasons ago...." She stops as she notices the badger and waves and smirks “Wow...you’re not in a tree."

Xander blinks “I not always in tree. Just like them, but ones in woods look better and taller"

Cynthia chuckles as she smiles "I should get to my music lesson, it’s soon...talk later" And she is off.

Benar waves as Cynthia stands up, "Have a good lesson, I will see you soon," He turns then and

starts to cross the hall toward the exit. "Oh hello there," he pauses and greets the badger, "How nice to meet you"

Xander studies Benar, "Hello" He says softly. "I am Xander....I live here now"

Benar is standing in the middle of the Great Hall next to Xander, "Well Xander, welcome to Redwall Abbey, you must be Zinnia's little one? She told me all about you, I am Abbot Benar, a pleasure to have you here with us."

Xander smiles "You is...You are leader here then." He still has some dibbunish speech but is working on better speech as he is almost 4 seasons old."Yeah Zinnia is mom, she helped me on beach and then 'dopted me

Benar says, "I am one of the leaders yes, the council of Elders are the others," he smiles at Xander, "I hope you will be happy here with us Xander." He gestures around him, "Redwall Abbey is a home of peace all are welcome here within our walls."

Xander says, "I like to climb the trees, but not all time. I not.." He corrects himself "Have not meet other dibbuns..I think they not like me." He is a little tall for dibbuns here, not too tall for a badger his age though."

The home of peace and tranquility, all right. The door comes flying open, swinging wide with unusual speed and force for an opening of its august size and significance. Two squirrels, looking rough and dirty, come waltzing through, bringing the smell of the road along with them. The male, the larger of the two, has a distinct limp to his step, but there's a ragged sense of pride in every stride. He walks straight up to Benar, one paw resting on the red-jeweled pommel of his sword, and shoves the other out towards the older squirrel, passing him an old scroll. "We did it, Father Abbot. We got the scroll."

His companion, following close behind, beams at Benar. There is an air of smugness to the grin; the self-satisfied demeanor of someone who is in on big news. And, trust her, there is some big news. "What he said." Aden reiterates, unable to keep the smile from her face as she takes in every detail of the Great Hall...It feels like they've been gone the course of years stuffed into a period of weeks. She certainly isn't the same aimless wanderer who stumbled, shame faced, into the Abbey walls all those months ago. Now the place feels like home.

Benar turns as the door swings open, he's about to shout at whoever it is when the door bangs against the wall and rattles the stained glass windows that frame the doorway. Then he spots who it is and his face splits wide into a smile. he ignored the out thrust hand and embraces the other squirrel, squeezing him hard. "Magramba, oh am I ever so glad to see you and Aden!" He smiles at the other, "Xander..." He motions to the badger, "This is the protector of the Abbey, champion Magramba, heir to the Sword of Martin the warrior," The abbot smiles at the other squirrel, "I have been waiting for you, I was told you were coming home, where is Flicktail? Visiting Rayen?"

Xander walks over slowly and looks at the two squirrels, and studies the sword Magramba has, "That is a neat sword, but you be careful with it, it sharp" He has been told of swords and blades a little bit. He seems to study him more and nods "Yeah he is good champion I think and will like protect abbey from allllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll evil"

Oh, hugs and fancy titles right off the bat. Alright. Well then. Magramba extricates himself from the older squirrel's embrace, brushing the 'dirt' of affection off politely. It stains, you know. "Flick's around somewhere. He ran off when we came in through the east wall gate, so you're probably right." The new Champion grins, glancing back over his shoulder at Aden happily. "We have everything we need to bargain with the martens now."

Aden's face falls, despite the happy homecoming. "Oh, /what/? Everyone already knows." She laughs. "Here I was looking forward to seeing that look of surprise." The acrobat gives Benar a cheeky wink as she settles into the sudden shock of creature comforts once again, a chuckle slipping out behind her paw as the Abbot hugs their new Champion. It's cool, Benar, she does it to him all the time, and he still looks just as uncomfortable. As Mag speaks, she squats to discern the young badger with a grin. "You think so? I do too." She holds a paw out towards him to repeat the Abbot's greeting. "I'm Aden, it's nice to meet you."

Benar shakes his head, "I do not think everyone knows, but I happen to have a source that speaks to me from time to time, he told me to expect your return," He smiles at Magramba, "Welcome home, to all of you, I am so glad... I hope the Marten's will leave peacefully and that threat can be lifted from the abbey."

Xander listens as he stands off to the side as the squirrels talk, he smiles at Aden and nods in agreement. “He have to be good..he as same sword as him" He points to the tapestry on the wall. "Mommy told me that’s Martin warrior "

"That would be the ideal," Magramba agrees, waffling around with the scroll before finally tucking it into his belt since Benar doesn't seem too keen to take it. "Hopefully it works out." Especially since they just spent the last several months walking all over creation and nearly being chopped to bits to get the thing. It would be a real slap to the face if the martens decided it wasn't good enough.

"Aye. He likes to meddle in things from time to time." The silver squirrel winks again, pushing her palms against her knees to push herself upright. "Exhibit A." Aden grins, waving towards Magramba, standing there looking all official (if not a bit worse for wear, as they all do). "I'm not sure how much I trust our brooding princess of the underworld, but I'm cautiously optimistic about this." She shifts to stand at the warrior's side, grinning sideways at him as she nudges an elbow (GENTLY) at his side. "Or you'll be getting some practice in with that sooner than expected."

Oz makes his way to the Great Hall as he hears voices. Most of the voices he knows, but Aden's is new as he steps on into the great hall “A voice I have not heard in a while and a new one as well it seems I have yet to meet"

Benar smiles softly at Magramba and grips his arm and squeeze it, "I have every confidence in you Magramba, one you are all rested up we'll go down there and hopefully send our uninvited guests packing." he then glances at Aden and Xander and smiles at them, "I am just relieved everyone is home," he glances at Oz, "Oz look who has returned, Aden and Magramba, and it seems Flicktail has passed over the sword to Magramba."

Xander smiles as he sees Oz and goes over to hug him, he always was more comfortable around other badgers faster than most other beasts he has yet to get to know. He will let all the older beasts talk about whatever is going on and just be quiet for now.

"Yes, we're back with the scroll," Magramba reiterates, pulling said scroll from his belt. It was hard to get and he's a little proud, alright? Here, look at it! "This is what we needed, and we got it."

Benar finally reaches out for the scroll, "Here let me have a look at it Mag, see if I can make any sense of it, did you look at it yet yourself?"

Aden strikes a pose, framing the scroll with her paws as Magramba unsheathes it once again. "And we came back in, more or less, one piece each." Ta-da! "I just want the record to show that Flicktail took an arrow to the bum cheek before he is around to deny that fact."

Oz allows the hug from Xander. He returns his own hug as he speaks again, “Well then I am sure Martin has chosen wisely. Welcome home then...Champion Magramba." He arches an eyebrow at the mention of an arrow but decides not to even ask.

Xander blinks "That’s a bad place for an arrow, it probably hurt really really bad" Then again any place one gets hit with an arrow would hurt and maybe in his eyes almost kill a beast “Did he almost dies?"

"I looked at it, yes," Magramba replies, handing it over and letting his paw fall to his side. "Seems legitimate, so I'm sure it's the real deal. We were... in a bit of a hurry heading out from Marshank," the warrior adds to explain why it would even be a question. "I'll let you take a look, Father Abbot. Aden and I are weary from the road, and... well, we did miss the kitchens." He gives the surrounding beasts a wide grin. "If you'll excuse us..."

Benar chuckles and takes the scroll,. "I shall see to it that your trials are recorded for all time, but you two go and rest up. I will go give this a read and we will meet for dinner. I am sure the Friar can rustle you up some lunch after..." he points at the stairs, "You both clean up from the road, if you go into the kitchen like this the Friar will drive you both out."

The addition of a new beast to the conversation perks the acrobat's ears. She knows that voice, doesn't she? "Oh, I believe we've met. O.....tto? No...Oz?" Aden asks, turning to the older badger. She was always good with faces, and even better with names - it comes with the performance industry. At Xander's inquiry, she grins and lowers to his level, once again. "Nah, he was fine. Bit sore for a while, but you should /definitely/ ask him about it next time you see our friendly fox, yeah?" She grins, wickedly, before straightening up, again. That grin only grows at Magramba's mention of the kitchens, and she nods in vigorous agreement before muttering, "First pie is /mine/."

Oz chuckles some at the clean up first part. "That would be wise to clean up first yes"

Xander nods "Yes getting mud in kitchens is big no no, your have to clean it all up or get no deserts, and desert is yummy"

Oz smiles, as others head off he smiles “A snack may well be a good idea.”

Xander grins “After cleaning up first” He will make sure all cleans up firs before any snacks or meals.

Oz nods “Yes of course”

-Then everyone had to go so ICLY food and drink was had whether it was a simple snack or an early..late?..meal.-