Spindle Wood (COMPLETED)

Chapter 87

The queen paced, a piece of her sleeve caught between her fingers. The king watched her helplessly, wanting to comfort her in some way but finding himself unable to speak, let alone move. There were no servants in the room - in the castle. They'd been given the evening off for the festival. The only sounds were the king's breathing and the queen's footsteps.

"It's getting a bit late, don't you think?" The queen asked, breaking the silence. "I mean, suppose something's happened to him."

"Everything will be fine, my dear." The king said. He forced himself out of his throne and put his arms around his wife. She sighed and leaned back against him. "We can trust Virgil, Roman and Remus. They gave us everything we ever wanted once, they have no reason to with-hold it now."

"I know, I know but..." The queen tore at the material of her sleeve. "But suppose something else happened. That that... sorcerer did something to him. I don't think I could live if I found something had happened to my baby before I get to see him grown up."

The king held her in earnest now. He'd barely gotten by over the last 16 years with no knowledge of his son, he couldn't lead the kingdom without his queen. She was, well, she was his everything.

"Everything will be fine." He promised again, the empty words echoing through the throne room. "We have no reason to worry. Everything will be fine."

Patton stared up at the castle with something akin to awe. He'd always watched the great, shining spires and towers from afar but now that he was up close...

He remember wondering how the sunrise would look from inside the castle. He remember thinking it must be beautiful. Now, he supposed he'd find out.

The thought didn't fill him with as much joy as he'd hoped.

"Come on, this way." Virgil waved him to a hidden door in the bottom of a tower. "We may not have much time."

Patton ducked his head and followed Remus and Roman up the stairs. He heard the heavy door close behind him but didn't bother looking back.

"Virgil, am I cursed?" He asked bluntly. He heard a stumble, like someone had fallen over a step.

"What?"

"Am I cursed?" Patton repeated.

"I-"

"I am, aren't I?" The concept somehow terrified Patton and yet changed nothing. Remus' story had seemed too... good, he supposed, to be the whole truth. Patton wasn't even sure if he was surprised.

"Remus?" He asked, the word sounding strange in his mouth on its own.

"Hm? Yeah, kid?"

"Why now?"

"Why now what?"

"Why send me back now?" Patton asked. "Did you not want me anymore?"

"What?! Kid, of course not!" Remus managed to shimmy past his brother and placed a hand on Patton's shoulder. "The curse only lasts 16 years. We had you for 16 brilliant years and some selfish part of me wishes we'd had you for more. But our time's at an end now. You become royal today and tomorrow, you meet your real family." His face softened in the half light. "They really miss you, kid."

Patton swallowed and started walking up the stairs again. "This curse." He said slowly. "What does it do?"

He could almost feel the glances being exchanged over his head. The 'should we, shouldn't we' of telling the truth.

"It puts you to sleep." Remus said eventually. "For an undecided amount of time."

"That's it?" Patton asked. Roman, who was ahead of him, nodded.

"Alright." Patton blinked in disbelief. All this for a sleeping curse? "If I get cursed, I'll just... wake up. I can stay up late, I've done it before."

"Patton," Virgil tried to explain, "that's not exactly how it works-"

"That's how it works for me." Patton decided. "I can do this. I'm a prince, aren't I?"

"Yeah but-"

"And princes can do what they want, can't they?"

"Patton-"

"Then I'll just not be cursed." Patton shrugged. "Simple." He didn't want to be a prince - not in the slightest - but if he had all this new power, he was at least going to use it to survive.

"Patton, that's not how it works." Virgil tried again.

"It is now." Patton nearly walked into Roman's back. He stopped and Roman pushed open a door.

Behind the door was a room. It contained a vanity and chair, a bed and a fireplace. Simple enough. There was a small bookshelf in the corner as well.

"This is where you'll stay til sunrise." Roman said. Patton made to step into the room but hesitated. He turned and looked at the three people who'd been his guardians for 16 years of his life.

"Are you staying with me?" He asked. He watched their nervous glances being exchanged.

"We can't." Remus said eventually.

"We have to go and tell their Majesties."

"Oh." Patton's heart sank even more. "Alright. Um," he tried for a small laugh, "since I'm probably never going to see you again," he looked up at them, "thank you. For how I turned out and all."

No one spoke. Eventually, hesitantly, Roman said, "It was our pleasure." before disappearing off the stairs in a way Patton supposed only fairies could do.

I'm so tired, my head is spinning and that's why this chapter's so awful. Sorry
Bye,
Blaize