Spindle Wood (COMPLETED)

Chapter 62

Logan took the folded paper carefully. "What is it?"

Pat shrugged, grinning. "Open it and find out."

Logan glanced at him suspiciously before opening the paper. His mouth fell open a little in shock.

"Did you draw this?" He asked incredulously.

It was a practically perfect drawing of Logan. The shading was right, there was light bouncing off his glasses and the small silver band for his crown, it looked like the drawing was going to blink at any moment. Or burst out laughing. Pat had caught him just as he was smiling and it was-

"Incredible." He said. Pat smiled shyly.

"Well, it's not the best."  He gabbled quickly. "I'm sure you've seen better at the palace or-"

"Pat." Logan said. "It's beautiful." He folded the paper and put it in his waistcoat pocket. He took Pat's hands in his. "Thank you."

A gentle pink touched Pat's face. Cute. At least, that's the word Logan's mind supplied.

"Well, happy birthday." Pat said. "Late birthday." He corrected. Logan couldn't help but laugh. He couldn't help laughing because this lovely, loving boy wanted him and had agreed to run away with him and... Logan was all at once lost for words.

"So, what d'you wanna do?" Pat asked.

"Pardon?"

"It's your birthday, after all." Pat shrugged. "How d'you wanna spend it?"

Logan laughed a little under his breath. "I honestly don't know." He admitted. "I managed to talk my parents out of the whole big party they always throw and instead we went to a ballet. Despite falling asleep, I enjoyed it a lot more than I would've the party." He shook his head and shrugged. "I've already had a wonderful celebration, I don't mind what we do now."

"Well, I can't think of anything so-" Pat was cut off by Logan's laugh. "C'mon, tell me about the ballet. Or what you remember of it. I like hearing you talk."

Pat pulled on Logan's hand gently, leading him in a walk. They didn't have to go anywhere, they just walked. Enjoying each other's company.

Logan looked at the ground and grinned. "Alright. Um... there were fairies, I remember that. A dozen or so. And they had these lovely floating costumes and the way they danced did seem ethereal and they looked like they could be fairies or sprites or something. Then, there was another fairy dressed in cobwebs and pine needles."

"So the bad guy?" Pat asked. Logan shrugged.

"I'm pretty sure." He said. "But the music was brilliant! Pat, you would've loved it. All jumping strings and sharp tones. There was a curse and then an escape, I believe."

Pat tilted his head to the side. "Who'd the bad guy curse?"

"A princess. I think. That was when I fell asleep, I think." Logan smiled a little sheepishly. "Anyway, I wake up and the princess is all grown up and dancing with this prince, I believe. That's where the song comes in."

"The once upon a dream?" Pat asked. Logan nodded.

"It was beautiful. With the entire orchestra, the music was enveloping and it truly felt like magic." Logan smiled. "Pat, do you believe in magic?"

Pat shrugged. He'd never really thought about it before. "I dunno. Do you?"

"I didn't used to."

"So you do now?" Pat asked. Logan nodded.

"I suppose, yes."

"Why?"

"I met you." Logan said quietly. "That can't've been a coincidence. I choose to believe it was fate or some sort of... magic."

"So you think I'm magic?" Pat asked, already laughing.

"Pat, I know you're magic."

Pat looked away, grinning widely. "Hey." Logan looked up too. His face fell.

"Oh God." He dropped Pat's hand quickly.

Oscar was standing on the other side of the river, just having dismounted. He was staring straight at Logan. Logan straightened his back and pushed his shoulders back on instinct. Pat looked between the two brothers, trying to get the gist of what was going on.

"That's your brother, right?" He asked. Logan couldn't look at him.

"Pat, I need to go now." He said. "And I'm not sure if I'm going to be allowed to come back."

Oscar's shock had dissolved into pure anger. He beckoned to Logan sharply. Logan dropped his gaze to his feet. Then, he glanced at Pat.

"Goodbye." He said. He didn't dare kiss Pat's hand like he'd done before. Not that it would've made much difference. Oscar had probably already guessed.

Well... would you look at that. Another fucking plot point I've pulled out of my arse. AS IF THIS STORY ISN'T LONG ENOUGH ALREADY!
Bye,
Blaize