Spindle Wood (COMPLETED)

Chapter 72

Pat had now moved onto whistling. Humming had been getting him too many worried looks - though he couldn't figure out why - so he was trying out whistling instead. It was surprisingly easier.

Right now, he was helping his dad with chopping wood. Well, his dad was chopping it, he was stripping the bark off. Apparently, stripped wood sold for more and they needed a new roof. Again.

"How you doing over there, little man?" Roman asked, leaning the axe against a tree. Pat looked up and grinned. He didn't catch Roman's conflicted expression as he looked back down.

"Say," Roman sat down beside him, "you think you could help me carry it all back? Think you're strong enough?"

"Dad, I'm not a little kid anymore." Pat said happily. "I'll be fine, don't worry. I'm nearly 16, nearly a grown up!"

"Yeah, don't I know it." Roman muttered under his breath.

"Hm?" Pat looked over at him.

"Nothing."

"Ah!" Pat dropped the knife he was using to strip the bark off. He'd cut his finger. It wasn't bad but it was making him feel strangely light-headed.

"Oh God-"

"Dad, I'm fine. It's nothing too bad." Pat interrupted. He tried standing up but fell back against the tree. "Woah." He laughed a little. "That's weird."

"I think I'm gonna get you home, little man." Roman stood up and held out a hand to Pat. "C'mon."

"Dad, I'm fine." Pat tried to insist. Roman gave him a look. Pat sighed and shook his head, trying to shake away the light-headed feeling. "Fine." He grumbled and grabbed Roman's hand, pulling himself up.

"Woah, careful." Roman caught him quickly as he nearly fell back again. "I think I'm gonna let Vee take a look at this-"

"I don't need Papa's help!" Pat whined. "I'm fine."

"You're pale." Roman said. "And you've nearly fallen over twice." He shook his head and started helping Pat walk towards their house. "Keep pressure on the wound and you'll be better in no time."

"I know how to take care of a cut." Pat mumbled. He wrapped his finger in the hem of his shirt.

"Right." Roman shook his head. "Course."

"So?" Roman asked when he got in again later that day. "What's the verdict?"

"He'll live." Virgil said, pushing the First Aid kit into its place on the shelf. "Which is the best for all of us. I've dressed the wound and he's resting." He glanced over his shoulder. "Moodily."

Roman let out a small laugh that was more relief than humour. "He takes after you."

"Don't joke about that, love." Virgil said. He sat down on the table and the attitude in the room dropped. Roman sat down on one of the benches.

"Sorry, darling." He said. "It's just hard sometimes to-"

"I know." Virgil shook his head. "Elves, Roman, what have we gotten ourselves into?"

Roman shrugged and took Virgil's hand. He gave it an almost absent squeeze. "I don't know."

"You should talk to him more." Virgil advised gently. "Pat's a good kid. You barely talk to him, you're out all the time, I know he's with Remus more than with either of us but you should see the way he lights up when you come home."

"That's," Roman pushed himself up onto the counter, "what I'm worried about. You said it. We're not really his family. I guess I didn't want to get too close." He picked at a fold in his trousers. "And now it's too late."

"You know that's not true." Virgil said, nudging him. "You've never been scared before, love, what is it?"

Roman took a breath. "When he cut himself, this morning, he could barely stand up. You saw too, that cut wasn't that deep. But he went pale and he lost his balance twice." He shrugged. "I don't know, it's probably nothing but..."

"You think it could be the curse?"

Roman shrugged again. "Maybe? I know it's not likely but what if it has lasting effects. And, Vee, what if we fail him? What if this boy Re has been letting him meet... I don't know." Roman covered his face with a hand.

Virgil shuffled closer and pressed a small kiss to Roman's knuckles. "It will be alright." He promised quietly. "He will be alright."

I don't know what this chapter was, enjoy
Bye,
Blaize