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fandomweekly2021-12-31 09:51 pm
autobotscoutriella) wrote in fandomweekly2021-12-31 09:51 pm
Entry tags:
[#042] A Midwinter Night's Tale (Redwall)
Theme Prompt: 042 - Winter Nights
Title: A Midwinter Night's Tale
Fandom: Redwall (set between Mattimeo and Pearls of Lutra)
Rating/Warnings: G / None
Bonus: No
Word Count: 866
Summary: In winter, there isn't much to do except tell stories.
Midwinter at Redwall Abbey was a time for stories.
Snow blanketed the ground outside, covering the Abbey in a pristine coat of glittering white that reflected back the light from the crescent moon above. Dusty red sandstone walls stood tall and strong, shielding the Abbey building and its inhabitants from the icy winds that sang through Mossflower's winter-bare trees. Down in Cavern Hole, a fire crackled softly in the massive fireplace, spreading gentle warmth through the ancient stones up to the rafters. Voices echoed up from the kitchen and down from Great Hall as creatures finished up whatever tasks were left and made their way down to join the others.
Auma sat back in her big chair and closed her eyes, letting the warmth and the chatter wash over her in a soothing haze. Winter in the Abbey was the slowest season, with no outdoor chores and few indoor ones, but the little ones who were her special charge still needed watching. Not for the first time, Auma wondered how Constance had kept up with them all into her elderly years.
"Muvver Auma?" A warm tiny weight landed on her footpaw, and she opened her eyes to see a tiny hedgehog determinedly trying to climb her habit skirts. She scooped the babe up into her lap with one paw and carefully stroked down the little one's spikes.
"What can I do for you, Miss Tansy?"
The baby hedgehog stared up at her with huge hopeful eyes. "Will you tell th' story tonight, Muvver Auma?"
Auma smiled and tucked a fold of the blanket on the chair arm around Tansy. "That depends what story everyone wants to hear. If you want the story of the Great War, or how the Abbey was founded, I don't know how to tell those well."
Tansy shook her tiny head decisively. "Wanna hear 'bout how you came to the Abbey an' how the warriors went to rescue you an' about the rooks an' - an' - everything!" She gestured expansively and almost fell off Auma's knee. Auma caught her before she could slip and adjusted her to a more stable spot.
"That's a very long story," Auma pointed out gently. "We'll have to take a vote and see if everyone else wants to hear it. Haven't you heard that one before?"
"Wanna hear it again," squeaked another tiny voice from somewhere down on the floor. Auma bent over, keeping Tansy in her lap with one hand, and scooped up a tiny squirrel and a baby mouse just barely old enough to walk. Craklyn, the little squirrel, grabbed a handful of blanket and started making herself a nest next to Tansy. "Wanna hear 'bout ad-ven-tures." She looked very proud of herself for pronouncing the long word correctly. Beside her, the mousebabe Piknim nodded vigorously while sucking one paw.
"Well, that's three votes," Auma chuckled, tucking the blankets more securely around the trio. She should have known the moment Tansy arrived - the three were almost inseparable. Where one went, the other two followed. "But we'll have to wait just a little longer." Cavern Hole had filled up while they were talking, Abbeydwellers and visitors making themselves comfortable in chairs or nests of blankets and cushions. The smell of hot almond scones and winter vegetable soup announced the arrival of the kitchen assistants, bringing in the evening meal.
Abbot Durral, elected only two seasons before at the beginning of the Summer of the Early Bluebell, rose from his chair on the other side of the fireplace and rang a small bell. The chatter died away as everyone politely turned their attention to the Abbot. "We've had a request for the story of the Summer of the Golden Plain," Durral said, turning a kindly smile toward the pile of little ones in Auma's lap. Auma hid her own desire to laugh - apparently Tansy and her friends had started making their case before they had come over to her. "Does anyone have any objections?"
A cheer went up from the assembled creatures, loud enough to echo into Great Hall. Auma blushed to the roots of her stripes, and Tansy climbed up the front of her habit to whisper in her ear, "Please, Muvver Auma, please?"
Auma smiled, gently settled the baby hedgehog back into her lap, and waited until the noise died down. "If everyone's sure they want to hear it again," she said, and waited for the enthusiastic responses before she continued. "All right. It'll take a few nights, though, so I hope no one needs to leave soon."
Plates of scones and bowls of soup were distributed, and the fire was banked up to make sure it would last until morning. Auma waited until everyone was settled, with food close to hand, blankets, cushions, and chairs arranged to everyone's satisfaction, and the only sound was the crackling of the fire and the clink of spoons in bowls.
"It was eight seasons after the Great War," she began, glancing down at the three little ones in her lap, who stared back at her with wide, excited eyes. "I was living with my father, Orlando the Axe, in our home on the Western Plains..."
Title: A Midwinter Night's Tale
Fandom: Redwall (set between Mattimeo and Pearls of Lutra)
Rating/Warnings: G / None
Bonus: No
Word Count: 866
Summary: In winter, there isn't much to do except tell stories.
Midwinter at Redwall Abbey was a time for stories.
Snow blanketed the ground outside, covering the Abbey in a pristine coat of glittering white that reflected back the light from the crescent moon above. Dusty red sandstone walls stood tall and strong, shielding the Abbey building and its inhabitants from the icy winds that sang through Mossflower's winter-bare trees. Down in Cavern Hole, a fire crackled softly in the massive fireplace, spreading gentle warmth through the ancient stones up to the rafters. Voices echoed up from the kitchen and down from Great Hall as creatures finished up whatever tasks were left and made their way down to join the others.
Auma sat back in her big chair and closed her eyes, letting the warmth and the chatter wash over her in a soothing haze. Winter in the Abbey was the slowest season, with no outdoor chores and few indoor ones, but the little ones who were her special charge still needed watching. Not for the first time, Auma wondered how Constance had kept up with them all into her elderly years.
"Muvver Auma?" A warm tiny weight landed on her footpaw, and she opened her eyes to see a tiny hedgehog determinedly trying to climb her habit skirts. She scooped the babe up into her lap with one paw and carefully stroked down the little one's spikes.
"What can I do for you, Miss Tansy?"
The baby hedgehog stared up at her with huge hopeful eyes. "Will you tell th' story tonight, Muvver Auma?"
Auma smiled and tucked a fold of the blanket on the chair arm around Tansy. "That depends what story everyone wants to hear. If you want the story of the Great War, or how the Abbey was founded, I don't know how to tell those well."
Tansy shook her tiny head decisively. "Wanna hear 'bout how you came to the Abbey an' how the warriors went to rescue you an' about the rooks an' - an' - everything!" She gestured expansively and almost fell off Auma's knee. Auma caught her before she could slip and adjusted her to a more stable spot.
"That's a very long story," Auma pointed out gently. "We'll have to take a vote and see if everyone else wants to hear it. Haven't you heard that one before?"
"Wanna hear it again," squeaked another tiny voice from somewhere down on the floor. Auma bent over, keeping Tansy in her lap with one hand, and scooped up a tiny squirrel and a baby mouse just barely old enough to walk. Craklyn, the little squirrel, grabbed a handful of blanket and started making herself a nest next to Tansy. "Wanna hear 'bout ad-ven-tures." She looked very proud of herself for pronouncing the long word correctly. Beside her, the mousebabe Piknim nodded vigorously while sucking one paw.
"Well, that's three votes," Auma chuckled, tucking the blankets more securely around the trio. She should have known the moment Tansy arrived - the three were almost inseparable. Where one went, the other two followed. "But we'll have to wait just a little longer." Cavern Hole had filled up while they were talking, Abbeydwellers and visitors making themselves comfortable in chairs or nests of blankets and cushions. The smell of hot almond scones and winter vegetable soup announced the arrival of the kitchen assistants, bringing in the evening meal.
Abbot Durral, elected only two seasons before at the beginning of the Summer of the Early Bluebell, rose from his chair on the other side of the fireplace and rang a small bell. The chatter died away as everyone politely turned their attention to the Abbot. "We've had a request for the story of the Summer of the Golden Plain," Durral said, turning a kindly smile toward the pile of little ones in Auma's lap. Auma hid her own desire to laugh - apparently Tansy and her friends had started making their case before they had come over to her. "Does anyone have any objections?"
A cheer went up from the assembled creatures, loud enough to echo into Great Hall. Auma blushed to the roots of her stripes, and Tansy climbed up the front of her habit to whisper in her ear, "Please, Muvver Auma, please?"
Auma smiled, gently settled the baby hedgehog back into her lap, and waited until the noise died down. "If everyone's sure they want to hear it again," she said, and waited for the enthusiastic responses before she continued. "All right. It'll take a few nights, though, so I hope no one needs to leave soon."
Plates of scones and bowls of soup were distributed, and the fire was banked up to make sure it would last until morning. Auma waited until everyone was settled, with food close to hand, blankets, cushions, and chairs arranged to everyone's satisfaction, and the only sound was the crackling of the fire and the clink of spoons in bowls.
"It was eight seasons after the Great War," she began, glancing down at the three little ones in her lap, who stared back at her with wide, excited eyes. "I was living with my father, Orlando the Axe, in our home on the Western Plains..."