Imagine a young Bain having a night terror and climbing into bed between you and Bard and then Bard wrapping his arms around the both of you
It was a usual quiet night for the people of Laketown. The full moon hung lazily over the sleeping town, with only the quiet trickling of water being heard above the noise of the nightlife. You were fast asleep in the arms of your husband, Bard, and your two children were sleeping in rooms elsewhere in the house.
Except, Bain woke up with a start. Racked by one of the frequent night terrors that the seven year old had. He never told you or Bard about these, fearing that you'd both tell him to "grow up"; not to mention that your elder daughter, Sigrid would torment him for it. So he kept it to himself. Lately, they had been getting worse and he found himself waking up during the night, and staying sat in his room unable to go to sleep again
As the days passed, you noticed that something was wrong with Bain; the dark bags under his eyes told you straight away that he wasn't getting enough sleep. You asked him whenever you could, if he was okay, but he always shrugged off the question and went to do something else.
Bard noticed as well, but had no better luck than you did, asking Bain about his problems. The two of you had even asked Sigrid to ask him; with the same results.
Two nights later, there was a huge thunderstorm that raged through the sky. You always loved to watch as lightning illuminated the sky at night, passing through the dark clouds like an arrow passes through the air. It raged through the night, and for a while Bard stayed up with you, until sleep crept up on you both; having no choice but to retire to bed, you listened closely to the occasional rumble of thunder, and the loud sound of rain on your roof.
You relaxed, but couldn't sleep; your mind was plagued by thoughts. Mainly, about your son. It may just be your motherly instinct, but you felt as if something was wrong.
Then, as you heard another, louder clap of thunder roll through the night, you heard someone elsewhere in the house whimper. The walls weren't that thick, but they kept the rain and cold out none the less.
After a few moments, you relaxed slightly but couldn't help but think that something was wrong. A few minutes later, the thunder was reaching a crescendo, and you were beginning to sleep, you heard the whimper again, only louder.
Bain couldn't stand it anymore. Who cares what you would think of him, he hated it! Within moments of the crescendo, he was out of bed, and heading to find you and Bard.
He tiptoed past Sigrid's room, and gently pushed your door open.
"Ma?" he whispered out into the darkness; you sat up at the sound and smiled at him kindly.
"Can I stay in here?" He asked you, his voice barely audible. But you heard it. Smiling a bit more, you sat up and opened your arms to him. Bain, taking this as an invitation, moved into the room and hugged you.
"Sure you can," You told him, as Bain climbed into bed with you and Bard. Lying down between the two of you, he instantly began to feel much calmer than he had alone in his room. He hadn't even noticed that the thunder had stopped.
As Bain climbed in between you and your husband, you smiled as you noticed how relaxed he was. You lay down again, hugging Bain as you did; he didn't complain, and returned it.
"Now, what's troubling you Bain?" You asked after a moment or two of silence.
As Bain explained to you what was wrong, you noticed that Bard had woken. He looked at his son in the arms of his wife, and couldn't help but smile at the sight.
Shifting closer to the both of you, he wrapped his arms around you both, lightly kissing Bain's hair as he fell asleep again. Slowly, in turn, the both of you followed him into the world of sleep.
Even though we have night terrors, we need to remember the morning gifts.