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Martin the Warrior & Laterose of Noonvale — A Spiritual Reunion

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It was a warm summer’s night over Mossflower. All was quiet and everybeast was sound asleep. Not a creature was stirring… except for one mouse.

Shafts of moonlight shone dimly through the stained glass windows of the Great Hall, casting their multicolored hues on the stone floor, as a pair of blazing braziers illuminated the pride and joy of Redwall Abbey; the Great Tapestry. In their flickering light, the image of their legendary hero, Martin the Warrior, smiled out from the venerable cloth, a paw resting lightly on the red pommel stone of his magnificent Sword.
Though the image didn’t physically move, his eyes seemed to follow everything, always watching over the Abbey in spirit. As the moon reached its zenith, the Guardian of Redwall stepped down from his tapestry, manifesting himself in full armour with his Sword slung over his shoulder. Noiselessly, the Warrior Mouse strode through that silent hall, deep in thought.

Time and again over the countless seasons, he had seen travellers come and go from the Abbey, but the previous winter had been the first time somebeast had come from so far away as Noonvale.
Noonvale! What memories that name brought back to him! Martin hadn’t thought of that hallowed glade in many a season. All his life, he’d kept that place secret for fear that evil might find the peaceful creatures who lived there. In some ways, he’d put it from his mind, haunted by the painful memories. He thought he had quite forgotten, until those two seasons back, when Abbot Saxtus had welcomed the travellers from Noonvale; a mousemaid named Aubretia and her hedgehog companion Bultip. He had listened just as keenly as everyone else as she had related to them the story of his early life, the tale of “Martin the Warrior” – and in his quiet way, he too had shed his share of tears at its tragic conclusion. He fondly remembered Bultip’s ancestor, Pallum, a dear friend and travelling companion, and Aubretia’s forefather, Brome of Noonvale. The Warrior had seen it at once; her close resemblance to the fair sister of Brome, Laterose of Noonvale!
The memory of Rose felt like an icicle being stabbed into his soul. He had blamed himself all his life for her tragic death at the Battle of Marshank. If only he had insisted she remained at Noonvale, she might have lived. Blinded by his mission of vengeance against Badrang the Tyrant, he had failed to protect the only mousemaid he ever loved. How could he return to Noonvale with such memories, or face her bereaved parents with the greatest failure of his life?
It was a twisted irony that her death was what lead him to travel south and become the legend he was to become in Mossflower, eventually co-founding Redwall Abbey and what it stood for, bringing such happiness to others that he could never fully realise for himself.

Stepping outside, Martin looked back at the Abbey building. He had quite lost count of the time it had been standing.
Moving towards a garden area in front of Great Hall, he returned to the object of his midnight wander. There, close to the wall, was growing a young rosebush; one gift from the Noonvale visitors. It was a cutting from the original bush that was planted long ago on the grave of his beloved Rose.
All through the winter, the blind herbalist Simeon had tended it, awaiting the arrival of spring to plant it out. The Warrior was pleased to see it thriving, but it was a late bloomer. Rightly was it called the Laterose.
As he drew near, Martin could see, at long last, the first budding roses finally appearing. Sticking his Sword into the ground, the mouse spirit moved closer to behold the flowering bush, reaching out a ghostly paw to caress the young roses with his blessing. For a while, he just stood there, thinking of his beloved, and he smiled fondly to remember the good times they’d had together. After so long, he felt better for being able to pay his respects.

Suddenly, somebeast touched him on the shoulder. Martin stiffened in surprise. How could anybeast physically touch him, an ethereal being? Unless…
“Martin?”
That voice! The Guardian Spirit of Redwall trembled, feeling as though his heart might start beating again! He barely dared to hope…
The sweet voice spoke again.
“It’s been so long. I’ve missed you so much…”
Martin turned slowly and there she stood, glowing in the moonlight.
“Rose?”
It was indeed Laterose of Noonvale, the pretty mousemaid’s spirit manifesting from the rosebush itself! Even after so long, she was as beautiful as ever – somehow, the ethereal glow complimented her fair features.
Martin’s grey eyes filled with tears, feeling such joy that he hadn’t known in ages.
“Aye, Martin. It is I. You couldn’t come back to see me, so I travelled from Noonvale to be with you!”
The two old lovers moved closer, gazing into each other’s eyes. They needed no more words at this moment. At long last, after many seasons of involuntary separation, the Warrior and his Rose had at last found happiness… and now they would always be together.

-------------------------------------

Martin the Warrior, Laterose of Noonvale and all the other characters mentioned here were the creations of the late great Brian Jacques.
Drawn in pencil and coloured in FireAlpaca with additional effects added in Adobe Photoshop.

Description
Martin the Warrior & Laterose of Noonvale — A Spiritual Reunion

-------------------------------------

It was a warm summer’s night over Mossflower. All was quiet and everybeast was sound asleep. Not a creature was stirring… except for one mouse.

Shafts of moonlight shone dimly through the stained glass windows of the Great Hall, casting their multicolored hues on the stone floor, as a pair of blazing braziers illuminated the pride and joy of Redwall Abbey; the Great Tapestry. In their flickering light, the image of their legendary hero, Martin the Warrior, smiled out from the venerable cloth, a paw resting lightly on the red pommel stone of his magnificent Sword.
Though the image didn’t physically move, his eyes seemed to follow everything, always watching over the Abbey in spirit. As the moon reached its zenith, the Guardian of Redwall stepped down from his tapestry, manifesting himself in full armour with his Sword slung over his shoulder. Noiselessly, the Warrior Mouse strode through that silent hall, deep in thought.

Time and again over the countless seasons, he had seen travellers come and go from the Abbey, but the previous winter had been the first time somebeast had come from so far away as Noonvale.
Noonvale! What memories that name brought back to him! Martin hadn’t thought of that hallowed glade in many a season. All his life, he’d kept that place secret for fear that evil might find the peaceful creatures who lived there. In some ways, he’d put it from his mind, haunted by the painful memories. He thought he had quite forgotten, until those two seasons back, when Abbot Saxtus had welcomed the travellers from Noonvale; a mousemaid named Aubretia and her hedgehog companion Bultip. He had listened just as keenly as everyone else as she had related to them the story of his early life, the tale of “Martin the Warrior” – and in his quiet way, he too had shed his share of tears at its tragic conclusion. He fondly remembered Bultip’s ancestor, Pallum, a dear friend and travelling companion, and Aubretia’s forefather, Brome of Noonvale. The Warrior had seen it at once; her close resemblance to the fair sister of Brome, Laterose of Noonvale!
The memory of Rose felt like an icicle being stabbed into his soul. He had blamed himself all his life for her tragic death at the Battle of Marshank. If only he had insisted she remained at Noonvale, she might have lived. Blinded by his mission of vengeance against Badrang the Tyrant, he had failed to protect the only mousemaid he ever loved. How could he return to Noonvale with such memories, or face her bereaved parents with the greatest failure of his life?
It was a twisted irony that her death was what lead him to travel south and become the legend he was to become in Mossflower, eventually co-founding Redwall Abbey and what it stood for, bringing such happiness to others that he could never fully realise for himself.

Stepping outside, Martin looked back at the Abbey building. He had quite lost count of the time it had been standing.
Moving towards a garden area in front of Great Hall, he returned to the object of his midnight wander. There, close to the wall, was growing a young rosebush; one gift from the Noonvale visitors. It was a cutting from the original bush that was planted long ago on the grave of his beloved Rose.
All through the winter, the blind herbalist Simeon had tended it, awaiting the arrival of spring to plant it out. The Warrior was pleased to see it thriving, but it was a late bloomer. Rightly was it called the Laterose.
As he drew near, Martin could see, at long last, the first budding roses finally appearing. Sticking his Sword into the ground, the mouse spirit moved closer to behold the flowering bush, reaching out a ghostly paw to caress the young roses with his blessing. For a while, he just stood there, thinking of his beloved, and he smiled fondly to remember the good times they’d had together. After so long, he felt better for being able to pay his respects.

Suddenly, somebeast touched him on the shoulder. Martin stiffened in surprise. How could anybeast physically touch him, an ethereal being? Unless…
“Martin?”
That voice! The Guardian Spirit of Redwall trembled, feeling as though his heart might start beating again! He barely dared to hope…
The sweet voice spoke again.
“It’s been so long. I’ve missed you so much…”
Martin turned slowly and there she stood, glowing in the moonlight.
“Rose?”
It was indeed Laterose of Noonvale, the pretty mousemaid’s spirit manifesting from the rosebush itself! Even after so long, she was as beautiful as ever – somehow, the ethereal glow complimented her fair features.
Martin’s grey eyes filled with tears, feeling such joy that he hadn’t known in ages.
“Aye, Martin. It is I. You couldn’t come back to see me, so I travelled from Noonvale to be with you!”
The two old lovers moved closer, gazing into each other’s eyes. They needed no more words at this moment. At long last, after many seasons of involuntary separation, the Warrior and his Rose had at last found happiness… and now they would always be together.

-------------------------------------

Martin the Warrior, Laterose of Noonvale and all the other characters mentioned here were the creations of the late great Brian Jacques.
Drawn in pencil and coloured in FireAlpaca with additional effects added in Adobe Photoshop.