“Oh. Oh, you just had a bad dream,” she murmured, pulling his head to her bosom and stroking his hair gently. “That’s all it was, you’re awake and alive now. I wouldn’t lie to you, Master Lance.”

The things that would have once comforted him as a young child still work just as effectively as they once did all those years ago. This felt no different than times he cried over a scraped knee or his father's harsh scolding. He wrapped his arms around her waist for a big hug as he waited for his nerves to calm down.

Eventually, they separated, and he shrugged out from under his blanket to begin greeting the day.

“Breakfast will be ready half past the hour so you have time to wash up beforehand if you’d like me to run a bath for you, Master Lance,” she suggested as she worked to make his bed. Instantly she was back into the role of a servant, a separation she worked hard to maintain except for moments like the one prior.

“That’s alright Abi, I haven't the stomach for a full meal and I have some matters to attend to today. Just prepare something simple for me,” he spoke while retrieving his day clothes from the wardrobe.

She perked a disapproving eyebrow but did not protest his request. With his nightmare this morning and the health of his mother, she couldn’t blame the boy for losing his appetite. “Of course, sir.” She then nodded and left the room to allow him privacy.

Lance quickly removed his clothing and washed off his face and body with a bit of soap and water. His frantic dreaming caused him to sweat profusely through the night. Then he dressed in his usual outfit of a loose white shirt under a waistcoat and trousers, gave his shoulder-length hair a quick comb through, and exited his bedroom.

After passing many hallways and a grand stairway, he sat down in the dining room to wait for his meal. Looking at the other end of the table, he saw a dirty plate and empty cup of tea, an indication he had just missed his father before he headed out the door. This made Lance offer a silent thank you to the Giants.

As quickly as he arrived he was just as urgent about leaving as well. He needed to visit his mother in the hospital as he did every visitation day, but due to the events he recalled in his dream there was something he needed to confirm.

Not only did he remember his death, but he remembered the death of his two closest friends too. He couldn’t block the image of their bloody corpses twisted into unnatural positions from his mind and needed to see them alive. That way he’d have an easier time convincing himself it was all a dream. A very vivid dream that he seemed to remember too well.

The closest to his home was Orwen, so he took the short walk to another part of the residential district to pay him a visit. Hurriedly he rapped at the front door to then be greeted by Orwen’s mother.

“Oh, Lance, you're here rather early in the day. I assumed you would be at the hospital right now. Thane is visiting as well, so you boys probably have something cooked up I imagine. Come on in.” She ushered him in with a wave of her hand as Lance ducked past.

There the two were, having coffee in the living quarters without a care in the world. As if Lance hadn't been feeling like he was losing his mind all morning.

“Oy! What’re you doing here Lance? We were about to go and see you and your mom,” Thane queried.

“I have a favor for you two. Can we spar in the garden?” Lance looked at Orwen and Thane expectantly, implying he wasn't going to take no for an answer.

“You owe us an explanation afterwards, bud,” Thane answered with an excited grin.

The three boys all laid on the grass, exhausted after their time exchanging blows. Lance prided himself in his skill with his rapier, but Thane’s skill with a pole arm was on a whole other level. Orwen suffered the same experience wielding his broadsword.

“You know dreams don't mean anything, right?” Thane chided him playfully.

“It just felt so real and still feels real. I find myself having to concentrate just to keep breathing. I'm afraid to even blink for fear I’ll open my eyes to see the flames,” Lance said with a hollow voice.

“You'll feel better once you visit your mom. She’ll tell you you're getting worked up over some kind of foolish superstition and tell you to focus on bigger problems,” Orwen added.

Lance gave a weak laugh in agreement. “Yeah, probably, the wedding is in two weeks. Life has just been coming at me too fast lately.”

Thane elbowed him in the side. “This is what people call those pre-wedding jitters don't you know? Aryn is probably going through the exact thing as you.”

“I doubt it. If anyone was strong enough to handle whatever life would throw at them, it would be Aryn. I'm just adrift at sea waiting for someone to guide me where I'm supposed to go,” Lance finished under his breath.

Just as they had resolved to stand up and start getting cleaned up to depart they all heard the loud barks of an unhappy man. Without even looking they all knew it was the voice of Mayor Wisteria.

“Boy, I have been all over creation looking for you. You know we only get a few days a week to see your mother and you're just here playing with your friends. Come on, if we hurry we can make it before dinnertime,” he ordered as he roughly grasped his son by the elbow.

“I wasn't playing, Father,” he said as he jerked his arm away. “I was having a crisis and needed to blow off steam. You can't fault me for something like that.” He eyed his father in a challenging manner.

“What could you possibly be in a crisis about, boy? You have a fantastic life that's only about to start. Do you know how many people of this town would kill to be as fortunate as you? Don’t make excuses just come on-”

“Would you just listen to me for once? Lance finally shouted with his feet rooted to the spot.

Mayor Wisteria sighed, crossed his arms and looked Lance dead in the eyes. “All right, you’ve got everyone in Clock Town’s attention now. What is so terrible?” he inquired impatiently, tapping his foot against the ground.

Lance took a deep breath and told his father all about his dream. As a result, his father made an expression he hadn’t seen since his mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness.

“You had a dream of your own death as well as your two friends? Well, that’s certainly unsettling Lance but as you can see they’re perfectly fine and so are you,” his father admonished with an impatient expression.

“Let that be a lesson that leaving central Termina is senseless endangerment to your life. Perhaps one of Dad’s old lessons is getting through to you,” he stated as he grasped Lance by the elbow.

He knew this battle and it was always easier to just concede. There was rarely a time when his father spared his input a second thought since he always subscribed to the “respect your parents before anything else” school of thought. Lance merely rolled his eyes and allowed himself to be dragged along as he threw his friends a forlorn look.

Despite his sour mood, entering his mother’s hospital room and seeing her again never failed to lift his spirits no matter how low. He stood solemnly at the doorway as his father shuffled in to disrupt the nurse taking her vitals, shaking his head all the while. Lance had to admit he agreed with his father on one thing, and that was in adoration of this woman right here.

“Are you alright my love? Pillows fluffed? Fresh linens? Was lunch to your liking?” His father prattled off his inquiries without sparing a moment for her to reply. Not that she tried as she sat there looking serene as could be in her condition. Her hand lifted to caress his father’s cheek and his own hand moved to clasp it against his face. He settled his nerves and allowed the nurse to continue, grabbing a chair and sitting close.

Lance did as well on the opposite side of the bed, content to quietly listen without speaking. He did his best to avoid acknowledging the discoloration of her face and the thinning of her hair. She had been sick for almost a year now, and her health had never improved in this entire time. Certainly she has bad days and good ones; this is appearing to be a better one as he caught a smile that managed to reach her eyes while amused by her husband.

He had been badgering his father, the mayor, for several days now to look into this medicine he heard about in the marketplace earlier this week. His father was staunchly against it, going so far as to turn red in the face and refuse to hear of such a thing ever again. An explanation for why was apparently too much to ask as Lance never received any such reasoning. He supposed he would just have to take matters into his own hands.

Eventually, some hours passed and dinnertime arrived. The three ate together and joined her in her bland hospital meal of under-seasoned chicken with boiled vegetables and a piece of fruit. They all agreed heartily the fruit was the highlight of the meal.

His father pulled a pocket watch from his breast pocket and examined it, which caused him to abruptly stand up and stow it away once more. “Well, my family, I must take off for the evening as I’ve a meeting with the city council regarding the carnival. Margaret, Lance,” he regarded each of them in turn. The look to his mother was gentle, but the one for himself was stern and expectant.

After his father left, Lance let out a long sigh, one that surprised him even. It felt like he’d been holding that in for a while, and he noticed his mother laugh in response.

“I wish you two would get along better. You’re more alike than either of you realize,” she spoke with mirth in her eyes.

He nodded, despising to acknowledge the observation despite believing it entirely himself. “We might be similar, but I think we respond to things differently. I at least want to deal with the problems I face, he just wants to build up walls around his problems,” he protested half-heartedly.

“Age makes a person more cautious. You don’t feel invincible as you do in your youth. Plus, he has a family to think of before taking great actions,” she reminded him while taking small bites of the orange his father had peeled for her.

“I think placing a harsher tax on foreign merchants who sell in Clock Town is more than being cautious. It’s approaching outright xenophobia,” said Lance.

She took a moment to carefully chew and swallow her fruit before answering, as a complication from choking could end her life very quickly. “I’m not saying the decisions he makes are always the best ones, but they come from a well-meaning place. My sickness has had a large impact on you both and I know it, you don’t need to dance around it Lance.” She rested her hand atop his own hands that were tightly clenched together in front of him.

“He-” she began, but was interrupted.

“He just wants to keep us and Clock Town safe as best he can. I know, I know. I just- I just really believe there’s more that could be done to try and treat your illness. There are more medicines outside Termina and Ikana that we can still try,” he pleaded, but she gave her own sigh instead in response.

“I’ve already accepted my time on this earth is drawing to a close. I led a beautiful life, albeit a shorter one than I would have liked, with a loving husband and a son we both adored with all our hearts. Most people don’t get that, Lance." She paused in reflection, then abruptly her face lit up with a happier thought in mind. "Your wedding is in two weeks, right? Oh, I’m so excited for you! It really surprised your father and I that you were ready to settle down, but we were so elated that you proposed to Aryn. She’s such a nice girl.” His mother smiled deeply while more than likely reminiscing about her own wedding.

“Y-yeah, it’s really coming up soon huh? I still need to get fitted for a suit and will need to pack up my belongings to move to Romani Ranch,” he mentioned nervously.

“Nonsense! Your father and I want you to always feel like this is your home as well, so you can leave what you like. You’ll get plenty of new things as wedding gifts, or I’m sure your new wife won’t have you living there without the utmost comforts. You two have been friends since you were little, what a beautiful romance you two have had without us ever even knowing about it,” she spoke wistfully.

Lance continued to listen to her and entertain her excitement for his impending wedding. He, however, was deathly afraid of this supposed next step of his adult life. Eventually, the sun completely set and the moon was glowing high in the sky. This was his usual cue to start heading for home. He then stood up to kiss his mother on her brow and extinguish the candle on the wall illuminating the room.

As he opened the door to leave, he heard his mother call out to him in the darkness. “Now, if you’re getting married soon, if you get to it quickly enough I may get to see my grandchildren before leaving thi-”

“Good night Mother! I’ll visit you as soon as I can. Love you Mom.”

“I love you, Lance,” she whispered with notes of both happiness and sadness in her voice.

The next day he decided to pay Romani Ranch a visit to meet with his fiancee. He still couldn’t get that dream out of his mind, but he didn’t want to burden his mother with such ominous thoughts. His pursuit of the toadstools didn't need to be known by her either. That made Aryn the next best person to talk about what was on his mind.

After eating a hearty breakfast alone, he saddled up his horse and left Clock Town before the sun rose fully over the Ikana Mountains. It was a brisk morning, which he came equipped for with his thick riding coat worn over his waistcoat and trousers.

As he trotted over to Milk Road, he couldn’t stop himself from staring in the direction of the Southern Swamp. If he weren’t alone and heading that direction, he would feel like this was deja vu. What happened to him felt like memories of a traumatic event, but his body lacked the muscle memory to respond to it in the appropriate fashion. It was vexing, and upsettingly so.

As soon as he pulled his mind away from it, he was passing under the archway of the boisterous farm. Unlike the sleepy Clock Town, Romani Ranch was in full motion by now and many of the morning chores were nearing completion. As he rode in up the path, there were many farmhands and ranchers that hollered in his direction and gave him a jubilant wave. He couldn’t return it with as much fervor, but Lance was genuinely happy to be in this place.

Striding up to the farmhouse, his fiancee Aryn was standing there with her father who both looked to have been tending to the stables. Upon seeing him ride up her face lit up and her father even cracked a wide smile at his presence. He dismounted from the horse and walked up to greet her.

Her form appeared to glide across the ground almost akin to a mythical being than what a young woman would be capable of doing. Despite wearing filthy farm clothes, her presence was always radiant and warm to bear witness to.

Approaching him, she leaned up to kiss him, her lips pressing softly on the corner of his mouth as he enveloped her in a hug. Slowly she pulled back with a smile before looking at him with an inquisitive expression.

“I didn’t know you were coming by today or I would have made sure to be wearing something more presentable,” she said with a wry smile. She spoke just loud enough for her father to hear as he walked over to join them.

“Well I’m just full of surprises, that’s something you’ll just have to get used to,” he replied with a warm chuckle. “Actually, I came by because I had something I needed to discuss with you. About the wedding, of course.”

She nodded, albeit cautiously. Aryn pulled from his embrace when her father walked up. “Papa, I’m going to speak with Lance for a bit. Can you finish the stables without me?” she asked her father, having already begun to lead Lance by the elbow to the front door of their home.

“Well I reckon that’s alright. Just don’t you be doin’ anything inappropriate with my daughter young man. Your wedding is almost here, don’t go spoilin’ it.” Her father barked a laugh at his own crude joke.

“Oh but Lance, yer horse is-” The front door was already closed behind them. Her father sighed before grabbing the reins and leading it to a post.

Aryn rushed them both inside through the entrance dining hall and past her mother and siblings who were cleaning the house as well as beginning preparations for lunch. Luckily they paid the pair no mind, and after a quick step up the stairs she led them to her bedroom.

Closing the door, she promptly let go of Lance’s elbow and strode over to the center of the room to start undressing from her work clothes.

“Hey! Aryn, what are you doing?” Lance asked; voice hushed and aggressive.

She turned her head to look at him like he was being foolish before fully pulling the shirt over her head. “Lance, we used to swim nude in the bay when we were kids. Lighten up,” she said in a humorous tone, walking in his direction.

While walking past him, a finger glided across his stomach on her way to her closet, stripped down to her skivvies. “Besides, it’s not like you’re tempted or anything,” she stated while perusing her closet for a simple day dress.

“That’s beside the point Aryn. We both know I’m not here to talk about wedding matters. I need my best friend,” Lance pleaded with her as he walked over to take a seat at the chair in front of her vanity.

“Well, Lancelot, your best friend is still here. She’s also wearing clothes that smell like horse poop. You can keep your knickers out of a knot and wait for me to find something comfortable." She chose a white cotton dress with patterns of cows embroidered into the fabric. Her face lit up as she spun around to display it for his approval.

With a thumbs up, he conceded. It was a fair request. Lance waited in perfect silence as she took her time getting properly dressed. She then plopped herself down on her bed, legs crisscrossing in front of her. Aryn’s dark burgundy hair draped over her shoulders having fallen down from her messy bun.

“Alright, spill the beans pretty boy. Did Daddy catch you reading Mommy’s “special books” again?” she teased with narrowed eyes and mischievous smile.

“What? No. Be serious,” he asked, nearly losing patience.

“Okay, okay, I’m done. I missed you, alright? I know we’re going to be together a lot soon, but it won’t ever be like this unless we’re alone,” she added with an underlying melancholy.

He sighed deeply, hand rubbing over his forearm as he averted her gaze. I know we’re going to be together a lot soon, but it won’t ever be like this unless we’re alone,”

“I missed you too, Aryn Mae.” As he said this, her nose crinkled in joy. “But I’m also not kidding when I say this is the most serious thing I’ve ever talked to you about.” Lance strongly emphasized the word 'serious'.

Her legs uncurled and she leaned forward, with hands clasped in front of her face. “Hit me,” she said curtly.

“So you know how you have a nightmare and it’s really scary when you first wake up but eventually within minutes you’ve forgotten most of it? Well, I had a nightmare like that yesterday. But I can still remember all of it vividly and in it I died. So did Orwen and Thane. I died suffocating and when I woke up I was gasping for breath. Surely this all has to mean something, right?” he asked finally, his eyes having been tilted upwards as he recalled the aforementioned events. This was to avoid seeing her face in case she was looking at him like he’d finally lost his mind. Lance intentionally left out mentioning the darkness creature on his chest or the beautiful person who told him he was going to die.

Eventually his eyes came down and Aryn’s face was a mixed expression of disbelief and worry. It was a little more than he expected but not exactly the response he’d hoped to get. Her lips puckered and swished from side to side as she tried formulating the right words.

After an extensive silence, she piped up. “You remember when we were kids and you were scared to go to the toilet alone at night, so much so that you became a chronic bedwetter?”

“Well, it’s not something I like to remember I did, but I’ve not forgotten.” His mouth turned down into a confused frown.

“You said some monsters lived in the water closet and nearly snatched you one night. Lance, you were so terrified that it drove your poor mother mad,” she said, laughing as she regaled the tale with glee. “But, one night when you slept over I pushed you in there and locked you in all night long. The next morning you weren’t scared of monsters anymore; you were too busy wanting to clobber me upside the head. Not that you could, you were a little squirt until you were eighteen,” she added matter-of-factly.

“So your point is none of my problems are real except how much of a ridiculous bully you are?” he asked once she was done with her story.

“Of course not, dummy. You know that’s not what I mean. If you’re scared of something that isn’t “real” per se, then you just need to confront the source of the fear face to face. Then you can know it’s make believe,” she finished with her head raised high with pride, all too pleased with her analogy.

“I think this is just a little bit different, but I think the basic part of what you’re saying rings true. Thanks,” he said with a wry smile.

“Of course it’s true. And thanks, that gave me great practice for when I retell that story at the wedding.” Her grin spread from ear to ear.

“That’ll be a great accompaniment for my story. Remember when you once threw rocks at my window one night to get me to drink with you and 'the crew' when we were teenagers? You broke my grandmother’s urn because you were too drunk to know which room was mine,” he replied in a teasing manner.

“Hey! You said you’d take that secret to your grave,” she said as she stood up with arms raised threateningly.

“Oh poor Nana, my father blamed the maid for a month before deciding it was the neighborhood ki- oof!” Lance was knocked to the ground as Aryn grasped him by the arms and dragged him to the floor in an attempt to pin him.

They rolled around on her bedroom’s floor for several minutes before collapsing in the center both on their backs. Their breathing was labored, but upon catching their breath they broke out into an uproarious laugh. Eventually, it settled and silence overtook the room.

“When was the last time you talked to Rachel?” Lance broke the silence, the thought weighing heavy on his mind.

“Well, she didn’t answer my last letter from two weeks ago yet and has been brief with me ever since I told her about the wedding. I still have her invitation in my nightstand; it felt wrong to send it to her,” Aryn answered with deep sorrow.

“I can’t say I blame her for feeling weird about the whole thing. She has every right to. Rachel will come around Aryn. She just needs reassuring I won’t ever stand in the way of what you two have,” he replied with a slight encouraging smile.

Aryn pondered in thought for a few moments before responding. “Are we doing the right thing, Lance? This whole...marriage deal.” She rolled over to look at him expectantly.

Typically Aryn was the one with all the answers and rarely had moments of weakness, which Lance chalked up to her being a few years older than him. On certain occasions, when the planets were in alignment, she would look to him for those answers. It wasn’t often he had them.

“I’m really unsure if it’s right. It’s not wrong, I don’t think, at least. After telling me your family wouldn’t support you anymore if you didn’t decide on a suitor, how could I leave you in despair like that?” He rolled over as well and reached out to take one of her hands in his, giving it an encouraging squeeze.

“You’re giving up your life too, Lance. Your parents won't disown you if you don't get married,” she croaked as moisture threatened to overflow from the corners of her eyes.

Lance nodded in acknowledgement, that much he couldn’t refute. “My father gave up on being proud of me years ago when I decided to not go into politics or a suitable apprenticeship. In that way I’m free to do what I want. Since this engagement he’s actually regarded me with an unprecedented amount of kindness. I never expected it, but it’s made me happy in my own way.”

“I love you, Lance, I really do. You’re my best friend, but Rachel is my-” Aryn stopped as Lance interrupted.

“She’s your moon and stars. I know that. If I could have my way, it would be you two getting married with no need for a man in the picture. Sadly that’s not up to you or me, so I’m doing my best to let you have your happiness and play with the world’s rules,” he finished with his own sadness lurking deep within his eyes.

“You’ll have your happiness one day, that’s a promise you hear me? You’ll meet a great person that loves you inside and out. It just requires patience, because you’re a great man and you only deserve the best.”

They pulled each other into a hug, but separated when they heard heavy footsteps treading to her door.

Shortly after Lance left to head back to Clock Town with much on his mind to ponder. Impending wedding, inter-family problems, and a bitter lover of his fiancee just to name a few. Aryn, however, had given him the push he needed to begin confronting his nightmare.

That meant first thing tomorrow he was going to the merchant district to get to the bottom of the rumors about these 'mystical cure-all toadstools'.