15. Of Reunions and Plum Pie

[Airan]

Posted on behalf of Jared Sandeye

"Acer!"

"Timothy!"

Godfather and godson practically leaped into each other's arms. Timothy sank to his knees on the ground with his arms coiled tight around Acer, hugging the young mouse protectively to his chest. The gray squirrel was beside himself with relief, sobbing aloud and not caring who heard or saw it.

"Acer! Oh, thank Martin you're all right! You had me worried completely to death, my boy! When I heard you'd gone missing, my heart leaped out of my chest! I'm so relieved you're safe! If something had happened to you, son—,"

"I'm all right, Tim!" Acer hugged his godfather around the chest and patted him comfortingly on the back. "I'm okay!"

"Oh, that's such a relief," Timothy pulled away and held the little mouse by the shoulders. "Are you alright? Did those toads hurt you?"

The mouse shook his head, and Timothy breathed another sigh of relief. He held his and Acer's foreheads gently together. Fresh tears of relieved joy streamed down his cheeks, which Acer wiped away.

"I'm so happy, my dear child. I'm glad you're alright. Thank you, Acer."

He dug into his apron pocket and removed the candied chestnut. Taking one of Acer's paws in his own, he placed the chestnut in the mousebabe's palm. "I was saving this just for you, my child. I promised you candied chestnuts, didn't I?"

Acer's eyes widened, the young mouse beaming. "Yay, a candied chestnut! Thank you, Timothy!" He stood up on his tiptoes and planted a thankful kiss on Timothy's cheek.

The gray squirrel chuckled, wiped his face on his apron, and stood up. "Come, Acer. It's been an exhausting day. Let's go home."

Godfather and son found the Great Hall bustling with life. The tables had been set up in a close circle with the proud Tapestry of Martin overlooking it. The twin braziers flanking the figure of Martin burned bright yellow-orange, merging with the evening pearly-white moonlight to cast an enchantingly magical aura over the Great Hall. Timothy had one loving arm close around Acer's shoulders. They noticed Elsine standing against the wall across the room opposite the Tapestry; Arden was flirting confidently with her. The badger's black-and-white muzzle gradually turned beet-red as she hid it behind her paws. Acer covered his eyes and stuck his tongue out, groaning in disgust.

"Looks like everyone is ready for the feast, Timothy!" Acer observed, scanning the crowded Great Hall.

Timothy gasped out loud and slapped a paw to his forehead. "The feast! I forgot all about it!" He suddenly sprinted through the Great Hall as fast as his feet would carry him, Acer rushing to keep up close behind. When they reached Cavern Hole, Timothy practically leaped down the stone steps and rushed towards his beloved Kitchens.

"I cannot believe I let the feast slip my mind in all of the excitement from the last few hours! If we hurry, maybe we can still cook some last-minute dishes in time. Oh, but true art must never be rushed if you want to make it perfect--,"

"It's all right, Friar Tim!" Arthur immediately appeared beneath the brick arches of the Kitchens, holding his palms up to pacify the Friar. "We finished it!" The teenage mouse spread his paws out and grinned triumphantly, his face glowing. "We finished all the dishes for the feast!"

Timothy skidded to stop in front of Arthur, and blinked in surprise. "You...you did?" he whispered, genuinely surprised. He slipped off his sandals and followed Arthur inside the Kitchens, Acer by his side.

Timothy stared speechless at the numerous dishes piled on top of each other or laid side by side on the counters. The combined delicate, mouth-watering aromas of freshly-baked loaves of bread, blackcurrant and hazelnut muffins, cinnamon almond oatcakes, flan, creamy mushroom turnovers, kale and parmesan brussels sprouts salads, cranberry orange and raisin scones, and many, many more filled his and Acer's nostrils. At the far end of the Kitchen, Ruby and another chef were carefully pulling a newly-baked plum pie out of an oven.

Timothy closed his eyes and breathed an enormous sigh of relief. All of the anxieties and adrenaline of the day fell from his body like water. He felt a wave of relaxation wash over him. Without thinking, he took Arthur in his arms and bear-hugged him tight.

"Thank you, my son," he whispered in the mouse's ear with earnest gratitude. "Thank you."

Arthur smiled and gladly hugged Timothy back. "You're welcome, Friar Timothy." After Timothy let him go, he gestured to the dishes. "I thought I'd save the butternut squash and mushroom risotto for you to garnish, and then we'll be ready to bring everything out to the feast!"

"Brilliant!" Timothy hopped up in the air, rejoicing and sighing once more in relief. "I can absolutely do that!" He put a paw on Arthur's shoulder. "You can all go ahead and start taking everything out to the Great Hall. I'll bring out the risotto myself when it's finished." He spread his arms wide around the Kitchen and proclaimed cheerfully to his chefs, "Come, my dear children! Let us share our art with Redwall Abbey!"

Twirling a small knife between his fingers, the Friar chopped five shallots which he added to the squash and mushroom risotto. Arthur, Ruby, and the others came in and out taking dishes, snacks, and drinks to bring to the Great Hall. Acer lent a paw as much as he was able, carrying a pitcher of pomegranate lemonade with Ruby's help. When Timothy returned to the Great Hall, he found the feast already in full swing. He couldn't help but grin happily from ear to ear, his heart soaring in his chest.

"Celandine," he told Mrs. Flowers as he set the risotto down on the nearest table. "I made sure Ruby baked a plum pie, just for you. Make sure you get some." He nodded at Ruby who was putting slices of said pie on small plates and passing them out.

Flowers stared with genuine surprise, her eyes glowing. "'Ee did?" Fresh, warm tears of happiness sprang to her eyes, and she dabbed at them using the hem of her apron. "Oi be wantin' t'arsk 'ee t'make a plum pie. Oi not be eatin' any since... Well... Et be Murbol and moi's annivers'ry, and, well, 'ee be knowin' that. Oi be gurtly pleased 'ee amembered et. Thankee, Timothy; thankee lots!"

Flowers threw her good arm around Timothy's neck, eliciting a laugh of genuinely amused surprise from the gray squirrel. Timothy gladly patted Flowers on the back. "You're very welcome, Celandine. I'm sure that it's going to be the most delicious plum pie in the history of Redwall!"

At the Abbesses' table, he poured a cup of Chicory tea and delicately placed it in a saucer.

"Mother Abbess," he bowed and offered the cup to Abbess Gentian. "Chicory tea, as you requested."

Abbess Gentian blinked at Timothy and then the teacup through drowsy, half-bloodshot eyes. Timothy suppressed a snicker as she reached out to take the cup, her paws shaking subtly.

"Oh, Timmy," the mouse slurred his name slightly as she placed the cup and saucer beside her plate, squinting, concentrating on keeping them from clacking together or making any unnecessary sound. "May Martin bless yer...tongs 'r whatever. Thank you." She paused, mid-sip. "What's innit--no, scratch tha'. Dun' care. Thanks."

Timothy bowed once more to Gentian, holding a paw to his heart. "It was my honor, Mother Abbess. Please let me know if you'd like another cup. I am at your beck and call."

As soon as he got outside the room, he exploded into full-blown laughter, holding his aching sides and stomach.

He poured a cup of chamomile tea for himself and settled into a chair at the chefs' table, serving himself a plate of Arthur's clam and cod chowder, lovingly rubbing the back of Acer's head with his other paw. Looking around the Hall, he noticed a row of champagne barrels sitting on a platform, taps at the ready. There was a long table beside the platform, upon which polished glass champagne flutes stood upright. The yellow-orange flames from the braziers danced and glittered merrily on their polished glass frames. Between each flute was laid a prize ribbon in every color of the rainbow.

"Excellent," Timothy remarked to Arthur and Ruby, breathing yet another sigh of relief. "All is prepared for the Brew Barreling. I've no doubt this will be riveting entertainment!"

"I wouldn't say 'riveting' quite yet," Arthur pointed his fork observantly at Nibs at the table to their right. "Nibs looks quite nervous, if you ask me."

"If'n he is, he's got a righ' smart way o' hidin' it," Ruby remarked in between bites of kale salad. "Tryin' t' look confiden' t' hide how nervous he is, ya know? I'd be too if'n it were me."

"Well, there's nothing wrong with that," Timothy defended, bringing his chamomile tea to his lips and gently blowing on it. "In any case, whatever the outcome, I'm sure we'll be thoroughly entertained all the same!"

He helped Acer climb up onto his chair and poured the boy a cup of pomegranate lemonade. Raising his chamomile tea in the air, he announced, "A toast, my dear children, to our grand and glamorous Winter Feast!"

Arthur, Ruby, and the other chefs followed suit and also hoisted their drinks. "A toast to the culinary arts!" Arthur exclaimed.

"A toast t' Acer!" Ruby added, glancing at the mousebabe and giggling. "Because why not?"

"A toast to Redwall, to Mossflower, to the Guosim, and to the otters! Here's to a beautiful winter!" Timothy stood up and lifted his tea high, then brought it down to his lips and drank dreamily.