Chapter 15—Innocence

Vaneeya spent the remainder of the night in a corner of her cell, pondering the events in her life that had led her to that moment. She searched her memory for peace in her past. She remembered soft-hearted soldiers, but mostly found her memories clouded by the stern gaze of the seer Mali. As her memory led her down unfavorable paths—bursts of Kefgahn's infamous anger, the murder of her playmate—Vaneeya's lip began to tremble. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the wall. She envisioned the moon, the orb both bright and soft, a celestial body that had always soothed her heart.

She could just imagine the moon now, resting among soft, wispy clouds in the midnight sky. The light would shine through the stained glass windows, illuminating drifting dust motes throughout the abbey's ancient halls. The light would shine on Martin the Warrior's place on the tapestry, reminding all who passed by that their hero was forever stable. Battle scenes would be hidden in the shadows, invisible to the uninterested eye, a knowledge only to be brought out in times of storytelling, or danger. This was a time of the latter, and Vaneeya was playing a role in the tale.

The silence in the cellar was complete. There was no scurrying of nocturnal bugs, no snores or heavy breathing of soldiers. There was nothing. She found herself wishing for Martin's warm arms to envelope her and warm her body against the cold of the night. She ran her paws up and down her arms, shaking the image from her head.

Deep in her heart, Vaneeya fought an unseen battle. She loved Martin dearly. He was the first creature of her kind who had not only seen her, but loved her. Her fought for her, against the strongest odds, chief among them being the disappointment of his family. Vaneeya's heart, only so recently touched my romance, told her never to leave his arms. However, the selfless part of her character, the part of her heart that wanted to protect Martin as she had never even protected herself, told her to leave. Looking into the future and seeing a life without Martin brought tears to her eyes, but she found some relief in imagining him living a life of peace, a friend to creatures whose characters had never been marred.

As the hours slowly passed, Vaneeya strained to find some clue of the impending dawn. She didn't know what she would find; a sensation that creatures had once again become lively, or the stones deep underground to emit a soft glow as the stones on the ramparts would in the morning light? In all the mornings she has been in the cell, she had witnessed no such effect. Her hopes defeated, she sat back and waited for the sound of jingling keys and pawsteps. As she waited, she took a gold hoop from her ear and rubbed the scarred metal between her claws. It was a piece she had once coveted, something she had worn since it had been won, and yet, in that place, she could not find it in her heart to care for gold. She had more precious items in her life, and those things were being destroyed before her.

Sometime later, Vaneeya heard the sound of keys echoing in the corridor outside. She heard pawsteps, more than that of one creature. She stood and rushed towards the door as the keys were place in the lock. She stood, footpaws steady, ready for the gaze of hatred she was sure to receive. The door slowly swung open, and she saw before her Martin's father, Mattimeo.

He wore an exhausted expression on his face, as if he too could not sleep. His eyes were weary and nearly bloodshot. He was a creature Vaneeya had admired from afar—full of life and joy, aware of all around him, a defender of all those he loved. She was sure Martin would one day grow to become like him, though she wondered if he could accomplish his innate playfulness. She wanted to know Mattimeo better one day, have him smile at her and tell her stories of the past, but any peaceful fantasy of such a happy life was gone from her mind. Mattimeo looked tired and sad, angry even, though she believed the anger was not directed at her. At least, his gaze was not so forceful as that of the creature behind him, Basil Stag Hare.

The hare glared at her, but would not speak to her directly. Without turning his gaze, Basil addressed the warrior mouse. "C'mon then, Matti, wot? We haven't got all morning! Let's get this bally lot over with." As he turned to leave, Mattimeo's eyes met hers.

"Come along, Vaneeya," he whispered. "I'm afraid this must be done." He placed his paw behind her elbow and led her from the cell. As he pulled her away, Vaneeya quietly dropped the golden earring on the floor. She vowed to leave every last trace of the old evil-doing creature she had been in the cell with it.

Mattimeo closed the door and began walking to Great Hall. Vaneeya noticed that he didn't lock the door once she was no longer inside. She wondered if any part of the abbey was locked to a creature who lived there. She imagined not, and found herself with the curiosity of a child, wishing to know all there was to know about every room within the abbey walls.

From the calm expression of Mattimeo's face, Vaneeya began to wonder if the meeting wouldn't be as difficult as she anticipated. She wondered if Martin had spoken to the remaining leaders and elders, convincing them of the truth and promising her loyalty.

As they drew nearer to Great Hall, Vaneeya sensed that she had no such luck. She knew that at mealtimes, the unmistakable smells of food wafted through the halls from the kitchens. Young creatures would laugh as they ran about the grounds in play, and older creatures would smile in memory of their own bygone adventures as dibbuns. There was no such joy today, only silence. She didn't even hear the sounds of birds singing outside. Once she passed windows, she was shocked to see that even the sun seemed dimmed, as though even the bright light that guided the day had retreated to grieve the loss of the peaceful Abbot Mordalfus of Redwall Abbey.

Finally, Mattimeo led Vaneeya through the doorway into Great Hall. Basil, Auma, a few elderly abbey brothers, and Matthias stood near the tapestry of Martin the Warrior at the head of the hall. Vaneeya swallowed hard and stared at the floor, for she found no kindness or forgiveness in their eyes.

Vaneeya saw the paws of the abbeybeasts as Mattimeo led her through the crowd. She felt their eyes burning hatred into her back. She wondered where Martin was, and if he had had any influence on his father or grandfather. She wondered how Mattimeo could be so soft, and the great Matthias could be so cold. She lifted her head enough to look around, but she couldn't find Martin anywhere near.

Mattimeo stopped directly in front of the abbey elders. Vaneeya knew that while most of these creatures had lived in the abbey for long lengths of time, the badger Auma was near in age to Mattimeo. She knew badgers to be creatures of wisdom, but also knew them to be ferocious warriors. Her shoulders began to shake as she waited for one of the leaders to speak.

There was silence throughout the hall. Mattimeo slowly stepped away and joined the elders near the tapestry. She noticed that he avoided the place his father stood, but before she could question why that was, Auma leaned forward and spoke out in a loud voice for all to hear.

"Vaneeya, you have been brought before the creatures of Redwall Abbey to either prove your innocence, or confess your wrongdoing. How do you plead?"

The abbeybeasts leaned forward. They had all been told that she had killed the abbot. Vaneeya felt her face drain of color—how could she convince them that she had done no wrong? That she had admired the kindhearted abbot? "I am innocent, I promise you," she whispered.

Auma's face grew dark as she leaned back. Murmurs rose among the listeners.

"Quiet!" Matthias shouted. Vaneeya noticed one of the abbey brothers jolt in shock at his raised voice. As one of the monks steadied his comrade, Basil demanded. "And what evidence have you got to prove that you didn't kill our abbot, wot?" The hare's ears stood on end, and his face was flushed red. Vaneeya glanced at Mattimeo for suppose, though he was still standing silently.

Vaneeya told the story of how she saw Brother Sayer laugh manically before bounding up the stairs on his dire errand. "When I saw him come back, that look in his eyes…I've seen that look! I see it in vermin all the time….it's, it's the look of one out to ruin an innocent creature. It's the look of greed and joy in hurting other beasts…"

"Be quiet! Stop stammering," Matthias spoke again. Though he didn't yell, his standing among the elders in Redwall guaranteed that all near would listen. Vaneeya once again became silent. Mattimeo turned to a table near him and picked up a small vial. He walked up to her, and looked deeply into her eyes.

"Vaneeya, this was found near the body of our dear departed abbot. It once contained a deadly poison, and what it was used for is well known to us now. Have you seen this? Is it yours?"

She glanced at it, a small vial made of a soft, dull metal. She saw foxes carry such things of poison for their sly workings with enemies. However, it was nothing like the ones she has seen among the soldiers of Kefgahn's army, who preferred short, stocky, and practical vials to delicate ones such as Mattimeo held before her. Vaneeya nodded. "I saw it in Brother Sayer's paw…it is not mine."

Matthias, his entire body shaking with anger, said, "How dare you lie-"

Suddenly, Martin shot forth from the crowd, shouting "Stop!" as he did. Behind him ran a strong otter. Vaneeya had no doubt in her mind that the otter's duty that morning was to detain the warrior's son.

"How can you judge Vaneeya like this? Tell her she's lying when she's telling you the truth?" he questioned as he drew near to her. Mattimeo calmly put out to paw to warn him to keep a short distance from the mousemaid. Martin respected his father, but gave a look to his grandfather that was equally seething to his own. "Can't you see she's a good creature, honest…she's just done some bad thing? She's good now. She's done no wrong to us…"

Matthias took a deep breath and held up a paw to stop his speech. "You believe Vaneeya is a good mouse, then?"

Martin nearly nodded.

"What about your mother, Tess? Or your gradmother, my wife, Cornflower…is she as good as them?"

In the audience, Tess met Cornflower's eyes.

"She's a different kind of good, grandfather."

Before Matthias could speak again, Tess stood forward and spoke. "There is a great deal of hurt here in this hall, we all feel a part of it." Creatures young and old acknowledged the truth with their eyes, either through tears, pained expressions, or staring at the floor in silence. "My heart hurts for my son, who has fallen into a relationship he must fight against all odds to keep. My husband stands nearby but feels so far apart as he watches Martin prove his character as a warrior and as a friend. My father-in-law has lost a dear friend in our leader. We have all lost our abbot. Must we lose our hearts as well?" Vaneeya saw some of the more delicate creatures shuffle their footpaws. "Listen to Vaneeya, to the sound of her voice. I hear no lie in what she says. I hear honesty. Martin has always been a good mouse, to all of you, even in his more mischievous days! He was nothing close to what his father Mattimeo was in matter of trouble in his own day, and yet you all trust him in times of trouble, do you not?" Many nodded. "Martin believes Vaneeya is innocent. He sees a deeper part of her than we do, because we haven't yet given Vaneeya a chance. I am ready to—I also believe Vaneeya is innocent."

Vaneeya noticed with relief a smile curve the corner of Mattimeo's lips. Matthias gasped. "You say this because he's your son, and I understand such loyalty…"

"With respect, Matthias," she began, "I say it because I do not want to see the innocent punished. It is my belief that we blame Vaneeya because we don't want to see evil in this place of peace, nor goodness in a maid with a dark past."

The hall become completely silent.

"You can live in disillusionment, but have you not all noticed Sayer's recent actions? Quick to anger, quick to blame, no joy in him. He has not played the part of a Redwaller in many reasons. I do not know why his character would change, because we all loved him once. We ignored these changes, look for the easiest place to point a paw. Somebody to blame. We saw Vaneeya and pointed without evidence, without thinking. Look underneath those convictions, search your heart for the truth. Look around you. You will find that Brother Sayer is not even here, and many of you didn't even bother to notice because your anger was already set."

Shocked, many of those present began to look for Brother Sayer. He was nowhere to be seen, though Alma had made it well known the day before that all of Redwall's residents were to be present at the trial. Some even began to call out his name, but it was fruitless. One squirrel, an aid in the kitchens, stepped forward and said, "It's true, he's been gone for a while…I passed his bed when I left the dormitory this mornin' before startin' the breakfast an' all, and he was already gone. All his posessions, too. I didn't even think about it, because I wanted to see her, er, punished for what she'd done."

Tess walked up to Vaneeya, both sadness and conviction in her eyes. "Only the guilty run. Young Vaneeya stands before you now, to prove that she is innocent. Do any of you agree with me?"

Slowly, and with increasing volume, the creatures agreed. "Aye"s and "yes"s rang through the hall. Vaneeya's knees felt weak with relief. Tess turned to Auma and Matthias. "What is your verdict?"

Matthias turned his face away. Auma, knowing that she was one of few who now found the mousemaid guilty, nodded curtly. "We'll give her a chance. If she makes so much as one mistake, she will be brought before the congregation again."

Tess nodded, turned towards Vaneeya and gave her a small embrace. "You are free this time, but even a small mistake will place you in a situation such as this again. Be careful."

As she walked away Martin ran to Vaneeya, who, both exhausted and relieved, collapsed into his embrace.