@raphcrow You’ve waited so long for this, thank you for being patient with me! I hope you enjoy it I’m sorry it’s utter shit
Peaceful Night, a Redwall Hell Fic
The night was coming to a close, flames licking out from the fireplace snuggled comfortably in the Lady’s corner. Her space was on the third floor of her beautiful and cherished tavern. From her private space she could view everything that took place. She fanned out a plum fan decorated in black lace, contemplating the closing chores. Floors to be mopped, dishes to be washed, that sort of checklist. Perhaps it was the damson wine, but she felt a bit fuzzy minded on this particular evening. Nothing terrible by any means, perhaps, once could hesitantly call it a feeling of peace. Some were bored by patterns, but the Lady found them comforting in her little tavern in Hellgates. There had been far too many disruptions in the past season or two, so to have a calming spell admittedly filled her with relief.
Lazily her eyes flickered out to watch as Willow Slay, the fierce mink, do a sudden backflip onto a table hosting a crew of ferret pirates. The room exploded in hollers and shouts as Willow did a mad jig to the song Nivedita cranked out on a stylized hurdy-gurdy, her tail whipping along to the rhythm. A few others jumped up doing their variations of dance, especially those who were weasels, stoats, or ferrets. They spiraled crazily, whipping their long wily bodies around, contorting in impossible ways. Flips and spins took over the dance floor while Willow spun around and around like crazy to keep up, her red skirt billowing out like a red wave. A black rose was tossed up and she dove for it, catching the thorny steam in between her teeth perfectly. She did a handstand on one paw, her jangly anklets clanking loudly before she was on the prowl again, jumping from table to table with a jovial grin, landing right in front of Nivedita finally, bestowing the rose, a little more rough-looking, to the beautiful piebald rat, and the dance ended.
Cheers thundered with applause and call for more ale or grog. With a bemused and perhaps a peacefully tired yawn, the Lady stood up, her fan extending. Torches aligned on the red and gold walls sparked red and pink flames, summoning the attention of the guests.
“My dear villains and villainesses, I fear the night has come to an end. Rest well, and after your long day of torture, we shall meet again. Next week we are planning our third ever talent show,” She hummed as the crowd began to set down their tankards, returning upheaved bar stools to their rightful places. The patrons were learning how to behave properly in her establishment. “You may sing, dance, perform, even show displays of weapons. Poison handling is prohibited however, understood, Cluny?” She arched an eyebrow at the massive rat who was retreating towards the door with his crew. He gave a snarl in response, but at least her order had been acknowledged. He had only recently been allowed back to the bar again. He would not be so foolish as to bring out the wrath of the Lady. After the last guest had filed out, the heavy large oak doors closed and locked themselves. Nivedita and Willow were dancing slowly across the floor together, humming out a melodic tune. Smiling at this, the Lady snapped her claws, the mess vanishing, mops rising from their closet, soapy warm water washing over wooden floors while mops and rags scrubbed as if possessed. Dust vanished and dirty dishes made their way into the back where Willow’s domain lay.
“What, you’re going to make me do all the cleaning on my own?” the Lady teased, her orange fur glowing in pinkish hues of candle and torchlight.
“Tiiiiiiiiiired,” Willow whined as she dipped Nivedita.
“We’ll clean the kitchen, thank you for the help my Lady,” Nivedita called out as she was spun somewhere else. “I’m getting dizzy, Willow.”
They stopped and the mink dropped to the newly cleaned floors, curling up in a ball of red and brown. Rubbing her face with her paws, Willow yawned.
“Cooking and dancing, cooking and dancing, I need a nap, I’m afraid.”
“Not as young as you used to be?” Lady laughed. Before Willow could respond, there was a rap at the door.
The three paused. Hardly anyone came after closing. Unlocking the door, the Lady saw three ferrets from one of the many crews that had been in attendance. The eldest was an older ferret, his fur black peppered with white from age. He had a crick in his back from the looks of it. He wore a purple bandana over his ears, which he took off with large paws and bowed to the Lady. Behind him were two younger ferrets, cream and soft brown, looking very much like twins. The larger of the two had a reddish tint to her eyes and wore a red bandana, a simple silver bracelet on her left wrist. The smallest was adorned with gold earrings and several bracelets. She looked as if she loved to cause trouble, even in the depths of Hellgates. They bowed, much to the annoyance of the smallest so it seemed.
“What can we do for you?” the Lady asked kindly. It did not escape her notice that they were hiding something behind them.
“ ‘Scuse me, Madam Lady, I hate to be a bother after all your hospitality, but these scalawags have caused some major trouble, I fear, and truthfully I fear for us.”
“Not me!” snapped the larger of the twins, looking very distressed.
“You got in trouble? Here in hell? That’s impressive.” Willow snorted as she uncurled herself and stretched, eyes glimmering with curiosity. Nivedita ushered them in while Willow fetched a pitcher of water for them all. Once they were all settled at a newly cleaned table, the larger of the twins presented a burlap sack.
“It’d be a lie if I said I wasn’t as impressed as I am equally angry at my sister,” she said, the red in her eyes glinting with fear and awe, and anger. The small ferret puffed out her cheeks in defiance.
“I’m a bit confused as to what you’re referring to,” the Lady said slowly, her claws tracing the patterns painted on the table. “What is it you need help with?”
“I found a loophole in the torture.” the small ferret exclaimed proudly. “I can escape unnoticed. I even brought these two idiots with me last time.”
The bigger of the two smacked her over the head. In a blink of the eye, the two were rolling on the floor, hissing and making noises as they wrestled fiercely. With a roll of his eyes, the male shook his head.
“Youn’uns. Please, Madam Lady, you need to help us return these items.” He pushed the sack across the table as if it were cursed. “I’m not sure how she figured out how to escape torture unnoticed, but she did and she started exploring the lands.”
The Lady sat up straighter, ears pinning to the side of her head as she sniffed the sack, the smell of death and limestone clinging to the fabric.
“They stole this from Vulpuz?” She snarled, her fur bristling. Willow and Nivedita froze, glancing at each other and then their leader horrified. “You two fools stole from Vulpuz?” With a roar the Lady grabbed the two bickering sisters by the scruffs of their necks, hauling them up, their paws dangling in the air.
“I stole, not them,” the smallest one spat, trying to squirm from the grip.
The Lady dropped them with a thud and whirled towards her most trustworthy of friends.
“Prepare for a great battle. They smell like his favorite tools; he’ll come looking for them. I’m sure he has cast several spells over them to always find them. Willow, I want to see every blade you own prepped and ready. Nivedita, please be an absolute dear and bring out your lovely Shadow.”
The two nodded as she spun to face the three cowering ferrets.
“Your foolishness—”
Her lecture was cut off by a loud rapping at the door. The door swung open and in strode Lord Vulpuz, ruler of Hellgates. His white fur shimmered in the lighting of the room, a simple homespun clock adorning his shoulders. He glanced around the room before his eyes landed on the burlap sack.
“Ahh, there she is. Forgive the rude intrusion, my fair Lady, but I believe that belongs to me. May I have it back?” He held out his massive paw.
“Lord Vulpuz, normally such an intrusion would arise my ire, however, you are merely searching for your stolen goods and wish for no confrontation I’m sure.” With a wave of her paw, the bag sprung to life, floating in the air rapidly towards Vulpuz. It clinked in his arms as he grabbed it from the air, hefting a sigh.
“Mm,” He opened the bag and rummaged through before nodding. “Yes, good. Now if you’ll excuse me,” As he turned towards the door, the older of the three ferrets flopped down on the floor.
“My Lord! Forgive my youngest sister for her intrusion and for stealing your property!”
Willow groaned behind him, her face resting in her paw.
The white fox turned around, barely casting a glance in his direction.
“Yes yes, torture and hellfire upon you all, but later. Now that I’ve found my tools I must return to my carving.”
With that, Vulpuz glided through the door and out into the night, door slamming heavily behind him, all locks snapping into place.
Willow and Nivedita let out a heavy sigh of relief, Willow sinking to her knees.
“We’re lucky he’s in sculptor mode and not torture mode,” Willow breathed heavily, her claws scraping against the wooden floors. “You are so damn lucky you have no idea,” she snapped at the small ferret who flinched back, nodding her head slightly. “You three are spending the night and scouring every single pot, pan, and dish I have in the kitchen. Get going!”
“Yes ma’am!” The elder brother leapt to his feet, grabbing his two sisters by their wrists and dragging them into the back where the kitchen was located.
“You may have dinner only after you’ve finished every chore and the kitchen sparkles so well I can see my reflection in it!” Willow turned her attention towards the Lady, who was look as if she had become a statue herself. “Are you alright my Lady?”
“I am fine, just amazed by foolishness and our luck,” the Lady waved a paw, a chair sliding towards her. She adjusted the folds of her green dress as she sat down with a sigh. “I was just contemplating how peaceful it’s been and then suddenly such events happen.”
“We are lucky for certain, but I have no doubt we could have all risen to the occasion if need be.” Nivedita smiled, patting the Lady reassuringly on the shoulder.
“No doubt, however,” the Lady looked up at the ceiling, her fur relaxing as she shook it out. “I just wasn’t in the mood to shed blood on a perfect evening like this.”
Limestone chipped to the ground as Vulpuz worked hard at hacking away the stone, sweat dripping down his face. He had already forgotten the incident of his tools being stolen. Forgotten the faces of those who had done so. Forgotten he had even left. Eyes glowing an eerie red, he chipped and chiseled, carved, and paused to check his work again and again before returning. It was a perfect night for creating agony into art.