Epilogue
The woodlanders rounded up all the vermin, who begged for mercy and said they would do anything as long as they weren't killed. Martin, Gonff and the others would never have killed the vermin, even if they were less than kindhearted. However, they were able to make an agreement. The vermin freed all the slaves, surrendered their weapons, and promised never to come to Mossflower again.
The woodlanders stood on the banks and watched in amusement as the vermin tried to maneuver the ship without scores of oarslaves. The ship wobbled back and forth, nearly crashing into the banks as the ship headed towards the sea and away from Mossflower. Martin stood up and called for the attention of the former slaves, who were all milling happily around the banks, happy to be free. They stopped and looked to the warrior mouse who had helped to free them. Martin told them that they were all free to return to their homes, and that Redwall was open to any who wanted to find a new home and a new life. At the end of his speech, one mouse stood up and walked slowly to Martin. He whispered something in his ear. Martin stared at the strange mouse, then smiled. He nodded, and the former slave called up another mouse, a female. They walked over to Gonff. They looked up at Gonff and smiled. "Remember us, big brother?" the first one asked.
Gonff stared at them with an expression of disbelief that quickly changed to one of joy. He gazed at first one, then the other before speaking. "Crinff, Serrine?" he asked. They nodded, tears coursing down their faces. The second mouse, Serrine, smiled at him. "It's you, Gonff. It's really you, big brother." Crinff put a paw around Gonff's shoulders. "You finally found us, mate." The two mice hugged their big brother fiercely. Columbine, Martin, Dinny and the others watched the happy reunion and couldn't helped but be moved to tears.
That was not the case with young Gonflet. He ran up to the two new mice. "Does that make you my aunt and uncle?" the young mouse asked. Serrine knelt down next to Gonflet and smiled. "It certainly does, matey." Gonff scooped his son into his arms. "This young rascal is my son, Gonflet." He turned and pulled Columbine over into the happy group. "And this here is my beautiful, sweet, darling wife Columbine."
Columbine smiled at her husband, and then said playfully, "And this here is my mischievous, thieving, piescoffer!" Everyone laughed as Gonff winked at her. "Good idea, my darling, piescoffing. Let's get right home so you can make me some. All this adventure is making a poor starved hero like myself quite hungry!"
Columbine laughed, then clasped her husband's paw. "I'll make you pies, all right, and you won't even have to steal them this time. I'll make you a pie every other day, but I take away one for every hour it takes us to get home." Everyone laughed again as Gonff immediately began to rush around the bank, telling everyone to start moving for the sake of his pies. It was a long, happy trip back to Redwall. Before the ship had left, Martin had rescued several rafts and all the oarslaves that were not going off to their own homes accompanied the travelers back to Redwall, where they planned to make a new and happy start for themselves.
Delpa found it hard to leave as she started back toward the home she had been forced to leave behind. She turned to Columbine and gave her friend one last hug. Columbine didn't care about the spikes as she hugged her friend tight and thanked her for everything. She gave her an invitation to visit Redwall any time, and then her friend was off with a crowd of other former slaves heading back to their homes.
Back at Redwall, Timballisto the mouse was waiting on top of the wall as he always did at certain points in the day. He stared out at the river, wishing his friends would appear on it, but knowing that it could be a long time before they returned, if ever.
His reverie was shattered as he heard the sounds of singing. He was astounded as he listened to about a score of voices singing loudly. His heart leapt. Among the voices he could hear several very distinct voices. One was obviously Gonff, as he led the group in a song he had probably composed moments before. He heard Columbine, her sweet, calm voice balancing out Gonff's. He heard the curious sound of a mole singing and knew it had to be Dinny. He heard the clear voice of his friend Martin, and several others. He stared intently at the river, but saw nothing. He turned back to the Abbey, about to call for someone, when he turned back and saw a fleet of rafts floating down the river, led by two otter boats.
He waved excitedly, and then called loudly for Bella and the others. When the group finally approached Redwall, there was an enormous welcoming party cheering for them. They hauled their rafts and boats onto the bank, and then ran towards the gates, where excited Abbeydwellers were only too happy to let their friends in.
Later there was a fabulous feast in honor of many things. It celebrated the arrival of the new Abbeydwellers, the return of Gonff, Columbine and Gonflet, along with the others, it celebrated the end of an evil vermin leader, and it celebrated a few other things, too.
Drakk and Wyst had bonded closely with Mlira and Topra. So closely, in fact, that there were two wedding announcements that night! A few weeks later, Drakk was happily married to Mlira and Wyst to Topra. Treev and his tribe of otters were thrilled at the news, as were the Redwallers.
There was one more thing being celebrated that night. Gonff led Columbine into the Great Hall and whispered into the Abbess's ear. She looked confused, but allowed Gonff and Columbine to stand side by side at the head of the table.
Gonff looked at Columbine tenderly, and then cleared his throat. "Columbine and I have some news," he paused, letting the suspense build. He looked at his son Gonflet. "Gonflet, matey, you're going to have a new brother or sister soon!" Wild cheering broke out as Gonff and Columbine made their way to their chairs. Gonff embraced Columbine, and the two gazed happily into each other's eyes before pulling their son into the family hug.
The Abbess watched the little mousemaid's eyes close as the story ended. For a moment the Abbess sat in her chair with the Dibbun on her lap, thinking peaceful thoughts. Then the door to the study opened again, and another mouse looked in. This mouse was also young, but older than the one on her lap.
The mouse cleared his throat. "I was told to get my sister and have her ready for bed..." The Abbess smiled warmly. "Of course, Gonflet. Little Rosie was wonderfully behaved." She stood up, careful not to disturb the sleeping Dibbun. She handed her to her brother, who smiled and thanked the Abbess, and then left.
What sweet little children her brother had, thought Abbess Serrine right before she drifted off to sleep. --------