Spindle Wood (COMPLETED)

Chapter 61

Pat was up before the flowers had even opened. He could see they were closed in the bluish light of dawn when he crept downstairs.

He'd barely been able to sleep at all last night, but he wasn't feeling the effects. At least, not yet. Just run through it until you run out, he supposed.

Pat snuck over to his sketch book and started flipping through, trying to find a specific page. His Dada always insisted on keeping the book down here so he wouldn't wile away the night (and the candles) sketching. He did it a lot, surprisingly.

He grinned down at a drawing and ripped it out of the book quickly. He folded it carefully and shoved it in his pocket.

He scribbled a note down and left it on the table. He mentioned something about wanting to see the sun rise (which he did) and to not worry about him because he wouldn't go over the river and he'd be back before lunch.

But what was really important was that it was Logan's birthday! His 15th birthday! He was going to be all grown up in a year's time, he'd be old enough to rule, old enough to sit in on political discussions, old enough to meet and marry his betrothed. If that was going to happen.

Logan seemed adamant that wasn't going to happen. He didn't want to meet his betrothed. He wanted to run away with Pat.

Some things Pat still couldn't understand.

There was a kingdom on the other side of the forest. It wasn't Aristal. Pat didn't know its name. He knew it was a happy kingdom, though, it was something he could almost sense.

There was always music and laughter floating up the hill to the forest. And when there wasn't, there just seemed to be an air of content. But, Uncle Remus and his dads never talked about the kingdom so Pat didn't ask.

It was incredible to watch the sun rise over, though.

The castle was right in the middle of the town so when the sun rose over the trees and hills, it hit the turrets and cast a brilliant light over the whole kingdom. Everything was bathed in pale yellow and pink. It was magnificent. Pat couldn't imagine how brilliant it would look from inside the castle.

He grinned and jumped down from the tree he was sat in. He glanced up at the canopy of blossom trees, pink and white blinking down at him in the breeze.

Standing up on his tip toes, he reached for a low-hanging branch and shook it gently. Petals rained down on him, making him giggle.

Logan would love this.

"I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream." Pat stopped behind a tree and put a hand over his mouth to hide his smile. Was Logan singing?

"I know you, the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam." He was! Pat glanced around the tree and nearly burst out laughing. Logan also seemed to be doing some impromptu (and not all that good) ballet.

"And I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem." He didn't actually sound too bad. "But if I know you, I know what you'll do, you'll love me at once the way you did once-"

"Upon a dream?"

Logan actually leapt in the air and whirled around. He stared at Pat and clasped a hand over his heart. "Pat!" He exclaimed. "Jeeze, don't scare me like that!"

Pat laughed. "Sorry, Lo." He probably didn't sound remotely sorry. "I just... you were-"

"Oh, don't remind me." Logan sighed and pushed his glasses up his nose. "My parents took me to a ballet for my birthday. I thought I'd add some words to the more memorable tune."

"What was the ballet about?"

Logan shrugged. "I don't remember. Something about true love." He took Pat's hand and pulled him closer. "I think I fell asleep."

"Wow." Pat laughed. "Must've been interesting, then."

"Mhm, very." Logan shook his head. "Anyway," he turned Pat slowly around, like he was about to begin a dance, "what brings you here so early?"

Pat shrugged, laughing. "A little birdie told me it was someone's birthday and," he brought the drawing out of his pocket. "I had to celebrate."

Oh, the callbacks I'm going to make. The callbacks!
Bye,
Blaize