Laterose of Noonvale

{{#SQuote: |id=12 |text=That liddle mousey-maid be locked in Marthen's 'eart, and thurr she'm bound to stay. |speaker=Polleekin }}

Laterose of Noonvale, most often referred to as Rose or Laterose, was a female mouse resident of Noonvale. She was the older sister of Brome, daughter of Urran and Aryah Voh, relative of Aubretia, friend of Grumm Trencher, and the beloved companion of Martin the Warrior. An extremely talented singer, Rose was known for creatively using her voice in many varied situations. Several examples include her transmission of secret messages via ballads, the imitation of eagle calls to scare off gulls, and even singing to ward off bees.

Personality

As a Noonvaler, Rose lived a peaceful existence without violence or conflict. While she originally had misgivings regarding the necessity of war, she later rallied to Martin's perspective after witnessing the barbarity of slavery at Fort Marshank. She also realized the importance of a warrior when she was faced with dangerous creatures who were intent on harming others, often without just cause.

Biography

Rose traveled to Fort Marshank with Grumm, intending to rescue her brother Brome, who had been captured and enslaved by Badrang the Tyrant. She observed Martin the Warrior, bound to two poles to keep him from moving so that he would be consumed by seabirds. Rose was moved by Martin's courage and fierce resolution, and decided to help him avoid certain death by tricking the birds who would have killed and eaten him.

Thanks to the assistance of Martin, she was able to free Brome and Felldoh, another slave, but she was separated again from her brother during their escape from Marshank. Vowing to return and free their captive friends, Martin, Rose, and Grumm journeyed to Noonvale in the hopes of reuniting with Brome and Felldoh safely at home. Martin also intended to raise an army against Badrang with help from the village's residents.

Rose was the great love of Martin and the feeling was mutual. Their affection and admiration for each other grew steadily during their long journey together. Unfortunately, this love came to an abrupt and tragic end when Rose was brutally slain by Badrang as she tried to protect Grumm during the Battle of Marshank. Martin mourned Rose for many seasons and seemingly never fully recovered from his terrible loss.

The Laterose Bush

Laterose of Noonvale was buried in her birthplace and beloved home, Noonvale, and Grumm planted a red rose on her grave. This rose blooms later than other roses and is called a Laterose in her memory. Many seasons later, a cutting from the original Laterose bush was brought to Redwall Abbey by Aubretia and gifted to Abbot Saxtus. It was planted by Brother Simeon in a special place on the Abbey grounds. When Cluny the Scourge stole the fragment of Redwall's tapestry that depicted Martin, the buds of this bush wilted, though they rejuvenated after its recovery.

Portrait of Martin and Rose

Boldred, a talented artist, created a miniature portrait of Martin and Rose, which Aubretia kept in a locket around her neck. It was given to Brome's family by Emalet, the only daughter of Boldred.

Nelvana Redwall TV Series

File:RoseOfNoonvale.jpg

Rose in the Redwall TV Series

Not much of the character of Rose is changed from the novel to the Nelvana Redwall TV Series, however, during Martin and Wakka's fight, she tries to intervene, only for Grumm to stop her. She also confesses her love to Martin, openly. During the final assault on Fort Marshank, Rose was among the javelin throwers and in the vanguard, instead of using a tunnel that Grumm and the moles dug for the reinforcements.

The book and the television series differ in their accounts of the circumstances of Rose's death. In Martin the Warrior, Badrang threw her against a wall, and she was killed by the severe concussion. However, in the television series, it is implied that Badrang fell on her.

Lead writer Steve Roberts said "It was felt that [Rose's death in Martin the Warrior] was overtly violent and very difficult to animate without smashing her head and breaking her neck. And we had to know she was killed. The solution was that Badrang fell on top of her. No less conceptually unpleasant, but at least out of sight of the eyes of the audience. Somehow being squashed to death by a fat tyrant felt preferable to breaking her head on stone ... overt violence is unacceptable on the small screen and these choices have to be made."

For other uses, see Rose (disambiguation).