Galathon gave his brothers a little time to cool down after the incident. He tried to act as if nothing were bothering him so that his father and his aunt Mudanwen, who was helping Seidiron to raise him and Fairion, would suspect nothing. His older brothers were, of course, careful to treat him with respect in their father and aunt's presence.

For a few months, things carried on as usual. Galathon played with Fairion, rode about his father's land, and even went out hunting once with his brothers, although he did not enjoy it as he once had, for his brothers' rudeness to him.

But eventually, he had another dream. The similarity between this one and the first troubled him, and he went down to breakfast very subdued.

When he reached the kitchen, he realized he had been the last to rise. All five of his brothers were already at the table, as well as his father and Mudanwen. They all greeted him—his father and aunt cheerfully, his older brothers respectfully, and Fairion joyously. Smiling at the small child, Galathon took his seat between his littlest brother and Hallon.

He was quiet throughout the meal, lost in thought. Finally, he realized that someone was saying his name.

"Oh. Yes?" he said, looking up to see his father watching him with amusement, mixed with concern.

"Why are you so preoccupied, my son?" Seidiron asked. "What is troubling you?"

"Nothing. Just…" Galathon could not lie to his father. "I had a dream last night."

His father did not doubt what kind of dream his son meant. "What did you dream?" he asked gently.

Galathon opened and shut his mouth again. He knew that if told his family, they would quite possibly be upset—his older brothers certainly would. But he would not disobey his father, nor lie to him.

"I—I dreamed that the sun and moon and five stars were bowing down to me," he said quietly and clearly.

His brothers exchanged glances once again. "What does it mean?" Fairion asked with curiosity.

"The same as the other," Eglerion muttered. Seidiron looked at him sharply, wondering what he meant, but Eglerion didn't notice. "He thinks he will rule us one day."

Seidiron felt anger stir within him. "What? Will your aunt and I and your five brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?" His older brothers shook their heads in anger, glad that their father was finally taking Galathon in hand. Galathon bowed his head before his father's rebuke. Mudanwen and Fairion were still, watching—Mudanwen with her lips pressed into a tight line, Fairion with wide eyes.

"Have you no respect for your father? For Mudanwen? For your elder brothers?" He shook his head in disappointment and stood from the table. "Come," he said to his four oldest, "there is work to be done today."

They all left the table. Galathon leaned his elbows on the table and put his face in his hands. After a few still moments, he felt a tug on his sleeve and looked down through swimming eyes at the face of his little brother. Fairion stood on his chair to whisper in Galathon's ear. "I believe you," he said. Then he got down and ran after Mudanwen. Galathon watched him go.

000

In the late afternoon, there was a knock at Seidiron's door, and he looked up from the parchments on his desk. "Come in," he called.

Galathon slowly opened the door and walked in. Seidiron, expressionless, turned in his chair to observe his son. Galathon dropped his gaze to the floor and fidgeted.

"Well?" his father finally said.

"I am sorry I disappointed you this morning," Galathon said humbly. "I meant no disrespect to you or Mudanwen or my brothers."

Seidiron sighed, then stood and approached Galathon, stopping before him. "Was that truly what you dreamed?" he asked quietly. Galathon looked up. His father did not look angry. He could not tell what he was thinking.

"Yes, it was," he confirmed.

"And do you believe that it means the thing your brothers said?"

Galathon nodded grimly.

Seidiron pressed his lips together in a gesture reminiscent of his sister, and his own father before them. "I do not disbelieve you, my son," he said finally. Galathon, who had dropped his eyes again, looked up at him, startled. "I was the younger brother, and yet I received the birthright of the first son," he explained slowly. "My brother Fastros held the honor of our family in such low esteem that he sold his birthright to me, and I ruled over my elder brother, as my mother had foreseen that I would. Sometimes Ilúvatar chooses to work in his creation in unexpected ways." Seidiron put his hand on his son's shoulder. "Perhaps even your dream shall come to pass."

Galathon leaned forward and put his arms around his father. Seidiron hugged him back and kissed the top of his head.

They would both remember the conversation in years to come.

TBC

AN: Gen 37:9-11 (also 25:23, 25:29-34, 26:29)

crazycatluver: Yes indeedy!

Laer4572: Thanks!

Princess Siara: Thank you for catching me on that! I fixed it.