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.
