Page 26 of Long Live the King

He lowered his head, looking up at our fan blades as they continued their very slow lackadaisical spin, like always, whatever the weather outside, our slowly turning bedroom ceiling fan was a constant, as constant as time.

“And tis as if the crown is heavy upon m’brow.”

I tucked my head to his chest. “I am so sorry my love.”

He said, very quietly, “Tis alright, mo reul-iuil. We will meet the day as it comes.”

I tightened my arm across his chest and held on.

CHAPTER 8 - MAGNUS

HOME - THE SAME NIGHT

In the dark before dawn there was a voice outside our door, “Da!”

“Archibald, all is well?”

“Nae, can I come in?”

“Yer ma is sleeping, I’ll come, hold on.” I climbed from the bed and pulled on a robe and opened the door tae the hall tae see m’son, his head bowed, his face grim. I whispered. “What happened?”

“I had a dream.”

“Och nae, tis a hard thing, come with me.” I led him downstairs.

We crept intae the room, picking a route past Ben who was fast asleep on the floor. I turned on the lamp at its dimmest setting, picked a comfortable place on the couch, and put out my arm. He sat beside me and cuddled against me, seeming frightened and needin’ comfort.

I said, “Tell me about the dream.”

“I call it a dream but it seems like,real.Like a video game, you know?” He grasped a bit of the front of my shirt in his fist and twisted it back and forth.

“Aye, I hae been havin’ the same, they are verra detailed, the colors are crisp and I think I can smell it.”

He nodded, quietly.

“What is happening in yer dream?”

“I’m up on a stage and there is large crowd yelling, ‘The king is dead, long live the king!’”

I looked down on his face through the darkness.

He added, “You know what that means, Da?”

“Aye, I ken what it means.”

“They’re talking tome.”

“Ye hae become the king?”

He nodded.

“Yer heart must be verra heavy from it.”

He nodded again.

I tightened my hold around his wee shoulders, holdin’ him close. “Dost ye hae a crown on yer head?”

“It pinches me, here.” He pointed to a place right above his brow.

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