Redwall Abbey

"Can you believe it?"
"Can I believe what?"
   A mouse in a brown habit with a white waist rope walked beside a round small eared owl towards the big building in the middle of the lawns. It was a warm, bright afternoon, and the sun cast long shadows over the green grass. Creatures bustled about busily, and if any came near they would bow briefly at the pair before hurrying off again.
   The mouse raised his paws in fake exasperation. "For season's sakes, James! What I mean is that it's been five summers since our last abbot left us, and I've taken the role as abbot!"
    "Oh, I remembered." The owl winked. "I suppose my humor is a bit hard to catch sometimes." He turned his head about as a young squirrel ran past them at a breakneck speed. "You certainly have everybeast busy for your celebration, Abbot Matthias."
   "Now now," scolded the abbot with a slight grin. "Just because I mentioned the five summer anniversary doesn't mean I'm having this feast for me, old friend. Don't forget this is the Midsummer feast! (Which just so happens to fall on my anniversary.) Of course everybeast is busy!"
   They continued walking for a moment in silence, then Matthias turned to the right. "Let's make a detour through the orchard, shall we?"
   James shrugged his wings and trundled after the mouse. "I do hope the changes I've made over the past seasons have been helpful, Father Abbot."
   Matthias raised his eyebrows. "My dear friend, whatever do you mean? You've been a priceless help to this abbey, helping in ways I've never before thought of and always being there when I'm not!" He laughed and patted the owl on the back. "Oh, where would we be without you?"
   "Possibly with some more foul-mouthed Dibbuns on our paws."
   "What?" Matthias' face was blank for a moment before breaking out into a wide grin. "Oh, ha hah hah! You're talking about that young rip who heard those old stories with the horrible swearing the enemies made and thought he could repeat them. You certainly made it clear that wasn't going to happen, didn't you?" They had reached the apple orchard and he sat down with his back against a knotted trunk with a sigh.
   "Five summers. . . I can still hardly believe it, James."
   "Yes. Seems like it was only yesterday, the time has passed so quickly."
   "And yet so much has happened in that time. We've lost a lot. . ." Matthias' eyes grew distant and threatened to tear up. "Lost some good friends as well. Ah, but we can't dwell on that when we see how much we have gained! Creatures from all over of all different kinds have come to our abbey, making the unlikeliest of friends and incredible things they have given to everyone. Writers, craftsbeasts, artists, cooks, all during my time as abbot. We've had some very good times together."
   "Lots of times when things were rather crazy or serious, too," added James.
   The other waved his paw. "That's how it's always been in our past. Just think of when we had to move from the other abbey all that time ago. Where would we be if those things didn't happen?
   From his perch on an upturned wheelbarrow, James only nodded, then closed his eyes sleepily. "Think I might. . . Take a shrt nap. . . Jus' b'fore the feast," he mumbled.
   "Mm, I'm with you, friend." Matthias closed his eyes and folded his paws on his stomach comfortably. The weather was warm, and that part of the orchard was very quiet save for the buzzing of honeybees as they ate some fallen fruit and the rustle of the leaves in a light wind. It was so peaceful there, so safe and secure, as it  had been for as long as anybeast could remember. Matthias fell asleep with a smile on his face as he enjoyed the lazy afternoon.
   He was asleep for what seemed to be a very short time.when he heard somebeast calling his name. "Oh, what now," he grumbled, opening his eyes. Running towards him was the hare Leonardo, dressed in his red officer coat and holding a long piece of parchment that trailed out behind him like a banner.
   "Father Abbot!" he was yelling as he rushed closer. "Is that you? There you are! We've been looking for you for ages!"
   Matthias got to his paws and stretched. "Hullo, Leo! What's all the shouting for?"
   The hare slowed to a walk. "Didn't you know? It's nearly time for the feast!"
   Smacking his forehead, the abbot looked at the position of the sun in shock. "Goodness! It's that time already? James, wake up! We must hurry inside or they'll raid the kitchens and say the feast prayer themselves!"
   James opened one large yellow eye. "I can't get a decent nap around here, no matter what day it is," he complained.
   "Yes, yes," said Leonardo as he tickled the owl under the beak with his quill. "You can sleep when it's nighttime like the rest of us. Come on, the others are already at your table, Father Matthias!"
   Soon the three were all walking back towards the abbey building, following the dozens of creatures doing the same.  The smells and excitement of the evening drew all to Cavern Hole, even beasts from the surrounding forest of Mossflower. The abbot had made certain that this feast would be a memorable one even in the eyes of the old ones who could remember when even he was a Dibbun trying to steal candied chestnuts.
   Matthias couldn't help but notice the parchment Leonardo kept scribbling on, even whilst they were walking. "What's that, Leo?"
   "Oh, this? It's a story I've been working on. . . A book of sorts. A sea tale of adventure, romance, tragedy, and dashingly good-looking and brave captains."
   "That good-looking captain wouldn't happen to resemble a certain Salamandastron officer who is taking a permanent vacation at Redwall, would he?" asked James. "What's his name?"
   "Why, Captain Leonardo V. Williams, of course!" said the hare with a broad wink. "Got to base these character chaps off of someone you know, wot?"
   Matthias laughed aloud and shook his head. "You'll have to show it to me when you're done, Leo. Mmm, can you smell all the good food, friends? Oat farls, apple pie. . . Why, I think I can even smell some onion and leek pasties!"
   The friends went back and forth about what foods they were excited to eat as they walked through the room. The tables were laden with all sorts of foods, from the moles' deeper-'n-ever-turnip-'n-tater-'n-beetroot pie to honeycream cake sprinkled with crushed candied chestnuts to huge salads in massive bowls to platters of cookies and scones and breads of all kind, not to mention the wide variety of cooled drinks brought up from the cellars, like the famous October ale and the super-bubbly strawberry fizz.
   They took their places at the head table with the two other Abbot's helpers, Rain and Leatho. The cat and otter were chatting about some art projects they had before they stopped and stood as Matthias took his seat. They were two of the abbot's oldest and most reliable friends, and he trusted them with much.
   All about he could see faces he recognized from many summers past, even to newcomers who had arrived not long after summer began. The three squirrel sisters, Jukka, Amber, and Russa- with her peculiar frog pet-, the badgers Ashenwyte, Sky, and Soren (none of them related), the ever-grinning Cellarhog Delthion, the abbey recorder, a fox named after Gonff the Mousethief, a huge cat who went by Skarzs with his close friend, the squirrel Faiyloe, and the constant companion of James, an otter by the name of Banya, to name but only a few.
   The noise of merriment and good-nature filled the whole huge room, and Matthais couldn't help but smile at the sight of all his friends, young and old, all together. There were a few he knew were no longer there, but he knew they would want him to be happy and be with those who were still there, and keep the spirit of Redwall flowing through each and every one with each new day, no matter the hardships or misgivings that would be ahead.
   It was the essence of Redwall. They would turn away no creature who came in need or good will, and they would help their own through everything right through to the end. They would live in peace when nothing threatened them, but if times would come as they often did when they would need to defend themselves, each would have the courage to stand up for their home and their friends so that future Redwallers would be able to wake up every morning to a free and happy abbey.
   Matthias stood up and rang his bell, and everybeast went quiet and still as they turned to him. He raised his voice for all to hear.
   "My friends, let us say the feast prayer.
   
   "We gather here in the fading sunlight
   To celebrate on this one summer's night,
   The family and friends both new and old,
   Who we invite, all, to our tables full.
   And as we have done for countless seasons,
   Let us remember the kindly reasons
   We will always welcome any good soul
   Who finds their way through the gates of Redwall."