Spindle Wood (COMPLETED)

Chapter 79

Roman looked up from counting savings as the stairs creaked. Pat was trooping down the stairs like someone who'd just lost their entire world twice over.

He looked scarily like Remus had.

"Hey, little man." Roman said gently. "You're up late. Everything okay?"

Pat nodded mutely, sitting down on the stairs. He hadn't even bothered changing out of his pyjamas. Roman tilted his head.

"You sure?"

Pat nodded again. He wiped his nose with the back of his hand. "I'm fine." He mumbled. "Just a bad dream."

Roman nearly jumped off his chair. The last time Pat had a nightmare, Janus had been interfering. And it would make sense that he was interfering now, so close to-

"Where's Papa and Uncle Remus?" Pat asked, jolting Roman out of his thoughts.

"Oh, um, they just went to the market." Roman said. "Vee's trying to get us some extra funds and we need a few new window panes so Re's said he'll take care of that." Roman dropped his voice to a whisper and leaned over the table. "I'd suggest staying out of the house for the rest of the day. That's what I'd do."

The remark only pulled a half-smile across Pat's face. Roman had been hoping for more.

He got up from his chair and sat down next to Pat. "Wanna talk about the dream?"

Pat shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. "Are we in danger?" He asked.

The words sent a spike through Roman's heart. "What? Of course not." He assured quickly. "We're safe as houses here. No one's ever bothered us, no one knows where we live and we will all make sure you're safe. Especially your uncle. He'll be there til the last hurdle."

"What about you and Papa?" Pat asked. A tear slid down his cheek and dropped off his chin onto his hands. "Papa promised me you'd never leave me."

"Pat, of course we won't leave you." Roman promised, the words breaking his heart as he said them. "Why would we? We'll always be there for you."

Pat let out a small sob and hugged Roman suddenly. Roman blinked before hugging Pat back.

"I don't wanna leave you." Pat cried into Roman's shirt. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"Pat..." Roman shook his head. "You don't have to be sorry for anything. There's nothing to be sorry for."

This only made Pat cry harder. Roman swallowed, guilt washing through him, and hugged Pat closer. "It's alright." He whispered. "It's alright."

Pat was upstairs in bed - claiming a headache - when Roman pulled Remus and Virgil round the table for a meeting. Remus rolled his eyes.

"Great, what've I done now?" He asked, bitterness creeping into his voice for the first time in over 15 years.

"It's not about you, it's about Pat." Roman said. "I'm worried about him."

"What's happened?" Virgil cut in before Remus could say anything. Remus shot him a glare. Elven mischief, they were acting like they'd never met before.

"First of all, what's happened with you two?" Roman asked. "I haven't seen you act this badly since you came to us for aid, Vee. Same with you, Re, you've never been this suspicious before."

"It's just spending a whole day with this idiot-" Remus started.

"Antagonism by proximity." Virgil interrupted. "Don't worry, we're fine." He dropped the sharp tone. "Now what is it with Pat?"

"He's different." Roman said. "He had a nightmare last night and he's acting guilty. He burst into tears and started apologising..." Roman shook his head, "I don't know what's gone on but he's scared. And he needs someone to talk to." Roman shook his head. "I'm not the right person for this."

"I'll talk to him." Remus said. "He trusts me."

"You need to talk to Janus." Roman said. "Last time Pat had a bad dream, it was him. I don't want him interfering before we break this curse."

"You really think we're going to break this?" Remus asked. Somehow, his tone was both hopeful and sceptical.

"We can try," Roman said, "but you need to talk to-"

"I already have." Remus interrupted. "He was as cryptic as always. We're not getting anything out of him." He stood up. "I'll go talk to the kid. He needs a friend."

Remus left. Virgil watched him go before turning to Roman.

"D'you really think it was Janus?" He asked quietly. Roman shrugged.

"I don't know, darling." Roman bit his tongue out of worry. "Pat doesn't dream that often. We've got to draw conclusions from what we've got."

Virgil picked at the skin around his finger nails. There was still dried blood around his nails. It worried Roman.

"It's not getting better, is it?"

"I can still feel them," Virgil said, trying to smile, "so there's still hope." He shook his head like a dog trying to rid itself of fleas. "I'll finish this dress and then it should be fine."

"You're sure?" Roman asked. He took Virgil's hand. "If there's anything we can do to help- I can go to the Forest Council, they're looking at ways to treat this. Some of it works."

"I'll be fine, Roman." Where Virgil's tone would've been sharp, it was more reassuring. He pressed a kiss to Roman's hand. "I promise."

Welcome to the most disjointed chapter I've ever written.
I haven't consumed water in over 12 hours :)
Bye,
Blaize