A Growing Up
By: Delsie
Universe: The Santa Clause (1)
Disclaimer: The characters, universe and dialogue of "The Santa Clause" are not my property. I'm just borrowing it for a little while. Please don't sue. I doubt you'd get much except for an incredibly annoying muse and a slightly worn teddy bear.
Summary: Two elves from very different backgrounds meet and discover they have more in common then they would have ever imagined. Bernard-centric.
Pairings: Bernard/OC, Judy/semi-OC
Rating: PG-13 (just to be on the safe side)
Author's Notes: I hesitate to call this story an AU because it's really not. What I've done is taken what little information was given to us in the first movie and expanded on it. Believe me, I have tried incredibly hard to stay within the limits set by the first movie.
This story will take place completely within the universe of the first movie. It's like the second movie never even happened. I do have an idea for an alternate ending, however, that would encompass the Santa Clause 2. Besides that story idea, I also have a few others brewing in the back of my head for this universe. Because of these stories, I'd like to keep this a closed universe for now (though my mind boggles at the thought of someone else wanting to write in my 'Verse).
There are many OCs in this story, none of which are Mary Sues. If romances between characters from the movie and original characters bother you, then don't read this story. I have made no secret about where this story is going (romance wise), so you have no excuse if you keep reading.
Special Thanks To: Ariesldy (for editing), KiwiFruit (for incredibly patience while I bounced ideas off of her), and TenebraeSica (for her excitement over the story and her editing skills).
Whew. That seemed to take forever. But, I'm done with all of that, so on to the story!
Part One: The First Sighting
The forest was cold. However, it wasn't just the temperature of the air. A feeling filled the wooded area, offering the impression of a chill that could seep through any number of layers. A shiver made it's way down the spine of a child-like figure. Small arms wrapped themselves around an equally small frame in an attempt to trap some warmth close to his skin. Alert brown eyes scanned the area, trying to pinpoint the cause of his discomfort.
Winter had already left the woods, yet spring was slow in making its appearance. A heavy silence hung over the wooded area, broken only by the tired calls of one or two birds. Thin tendrils of mist clung valiantly to the frozen ground and frost covered trees. The vague warmth from the half hidden sun was the only thing that combated the desolate and abandoned feeling of the forest. Another shiver worked its way down they boy's spine, though this time it wasn't in response to the cold.
The mood was suddenly broken as a warm coat descended onto the boy's shoulders. As was to be expected, he jumped, causing the coat to fall onto the ground. An irritated sigh came from behind him. The boy turned to see another child-like figure picking the coat up off of the ground. Red braids fell forward as she knelt down. With graceful ease, she stood back up holding the garment firmly. Green eyes shown with annoyance as she pushed the coat into the boy's hands.
"Really, Bernard," she admonished lightly, "that's no way to treat your best friend's coat." Bernard smiled slightly, glancing at the object in question, which now rested in his hands. For a moment they stood there until the girl rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Well, put it on!"
Letting the bag on his shoulder drop to the ground, Bernard did as he was told. Luckily they were about the same size so the coat slipped easily over his frame. Almost instantly, he felt warmer. He looked back at the girl.
"Thanks, but won't you be cold, Alicia?" he asked.
"If I was going to be cold I wouldn't have given you the coat."
Bernard nodded, smiling as he picked up his bag again. He knew that Alicia was lying to him, but he also knew that there was nothing to be done about it. This knowledge came from growing up practically next door. After being friends for longer than Bernard cared to remember, it was easy for him to tell when Alicia was lying to him. His smile increased as he watched Alicia automatically wrap her arms around her thin frame as the cold began to sink in.
Shaking his head he walked over to her and tapped her on the shoulder. The girl whirled around to face her friend, dropping her arms instantly.
"Come on, Alicia." Bernard gestured behind him where he knew fifteen figures of varying ages were moving quickly into the forest. "The others are leaving and I really don't want to get left behind, especially out here."
A slight smile appeared on Alicia's face as she fell into step along side her friend. "Spooked?"
"Let's just say if any wolves start howling I'm out of here."
"That's so cliché Bernard." A quick glance in Alicia's direction showed that she was grinning fully.
A smirk appeared on Bernard's face. "Yes, but also irresistible."
Alicia laughed. Bernard smiled in response as a comfortable silence fell between the two.
Nothing more was said during the walk through the forest. A few of the others in the group talked quietly but for most the atmosphere of the forest seemed oppressive and stopped much of their normal communication. The relief felt when they finally emerged from the forest into another, larger clearing was almost tangible.
For a moment the group just stood there, unsure of what was going on. Bernard took this time to look around at his new surroundings. The new clearing was indeed larger than the original. Bernard guessed that this had something to do with the fact that the area contained a few buildings. In the centre was the largest structure. It was simple building, rectangular in shape, only one story tall and made of wood. A few windows could be seen along the walls and there appeared to be three different doors. One was located on the shorter wall and the other two could be found on opposite ends of the longer one. Other buildings were scattered around the area and a few could be seen just beyond. Also made of wood, these buildings were smaller, usually with one door. Each had a dirt path leading up to them. Currently, a few heads were looking out of those doors. Knowing that they were the centre of attention made Bernard slightly uncomfortable and he found himself shifting his weight.
"Bernard," whispered Alicia, tugging gently on his, or rather her, coat.
"What?" asked Bernard, also whispering, as he pulled his arm out of her grasp.
"Look."
Alicia pointed to an approaching figure. From where he stood, Bernard could tell the figure was definitely female. As she approached, Bernard could make out auburn hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. Overall, the woman appeared to be an average twenty-three year old human. However, the look of maturity residing in her brown eyes and the pointed ears testified otherwise.
The woman, who was obviously an elf, stopped a few feet away from the group. Another woman detached herself from the others and went forward to talk to her. Both stood, talking in quiet tones. To Bernard, they looked very strange together. The woman who had come with them, Rachel, looked only to be eighteen and stood almost half a foot shorter than the first woman. Where Rachel was smiling and bright, the newcomer seemed serious. She showed little emotion and seemed to be uninterested in what Rachel was saying. Still, they continued to converse until finally Rachel turned back around and approached the group.
"Alright, it's all arranged. Follow Jennifer over there and she'll explain everything. I'll be back for all of you as soon as possible. And try to stay out of trouble." With a smile, Rachel waved good-bye. Then, she disappeared, a sound of chimes floating across the still air.
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence after Rachel's abrupt departure before Jennifer finally spoke. "If you'll please follow me." A few glances were exchanged before the group moved forward.
As they walked, Bernard leaned towards Alicia. "She doesn't have any sparkles on her cheeks, Alicia," he whispered.
"Of course not," responded Alicia. "She's Southern. They don't have any sparkles."
"Then why do Northern elves get sparkles when their powers manifest?"
"Because we're different."
"But we came from Southerners. Our culture branched off from theirs, not the other way around."
Alicia stopped suddenly and turned to her friend. "I don't know Bernard. This is just the way it is. If you really want to know what happened, why don't you ask Jennifer?"
Bernard glanced at the Southern elf who had continued forward. He tried to imagine what asking her a question such as that would be like. With a shake of his head, he dispelled the image and continued forward. "Maybe I'll just accept it as the way it is."
A grinned spread across Alicia's face. "Good choice."
Bernard laughed, but quickly stopped when Jennifer halted in front of one of the smaller buildings separated from the clearing by a few trees. She turned to face the group of sixteen Northern elves.
"This is where you'll be staying. If you need extra bedding, ask one of the adults who you will see wandering around. Dinner will be served in two hours. If you wish to attend, please come to the main building in the clearing. Don't wander off into the forest alone or without a guide. It is quite easy to get lost. You will not be stopped from interacting with the Southern elves, but don't expect them to approach you. Try to remain civil. I'll allow you to unpack now. Enjoy your stay." As soon as Jennifer finished her speech, she walked away without even checking to make sure that the Northerners understood.
Once she was out of hearing distance, the younger elves broke into excited whisperings. Bernard wondered how long they would've remained outside whispering amongst themselves if one of the eldest elves with the group hadn't stepped forward. Almira quickly climbed halfway up the stairs then turned to face the rest of the group.
"Well, come on." She paused to wait for everyone's attention before continuing. "I don't know about you, but I'd rather talk inside a nice warm cabin then out here so let's head inside and get unpacked."
Various sounds of agreement washed through the group and when Almira turned to head inside, everyone else followed.
Unfortunately for the elves, inside the cabin wasn't any warmer than outside. For a moment, no one moved. As Bernard's eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, he took in what was to be their living quarters for an uncertain period of time. The cabin was as simple inside as it was outside. Along the walls there were six bunk beds, each with three bunks. On the far end of the room was a fireplace, currently empty of anything, even firewood. A small table sat in the middle of the floor with four chairs surrounding it. It wasn't a bad place to live, in Bernard's mind, although it could use some livening up.
It could also use some lightening up. Dropping his bag, Bernard worked his way through the room, looking for a window. Finally, he found one between two of the bunks. Without hesitation, he opened it up. A blast of cold air came in with the sudden flood of light. Cries of annoyance and surprise came from the other elves.
"Bernard, close the window!" hissed Almira.
"I don't see why we need to. It's no colder out there than in here and it seems like our only source of light right now." Despite his objections, Bernard already had the window closed.
A laugh came from the back of the group. Everyone turned to see Almira's brother, Carlin, leaning against the doorframe. The sibling's green eyes met as Carlin brushed his unruly mop of brown hair out of his eyes.
"Carlin?" Almira asked, annoyance barely hidden.
"I'm sorry, Almira," apologised Carlin sincerely. "It's just that he's right. We're no warmer in here than outside and until we get a fire going we're not going be any warmer. Now I know from experience that it's easier to light a fire when you can see what you're doing. So how about we let Bernard open that window again and I'll go to find some firewood."
Almira continued to glare at her brother for a moment, but finally acquiesced. "Go on," she sighed. Carlin grinned broadly and was up and out of the door before another word could be said. Almira rolled her eyes as she turned back to Bernard. "Open the window, Bernard."
Nodding, Bernard once again did as he was told. Behind him he could hear the other elves moving around, trying to find a place to sleep. Most had claimed a bunk by the time he turned around. Slightly nervous about having a place to sleep, he scanned the room looking for Alicia. A slight smile formed on his lips once he found her. Of course she'd take a top bunk. With a shake of his head he strolled over and stood looking up at where she was stretched out.
"Comfortable?"
Alicia grinned broadly as she rolled over onto her stomach so she could peer down at her friend. "Why don't you find out for yourself?" she asked, gesturing at the bunk below her.
The look in Alicia's eye made Bernard suspicious, but he climbed up despite of that. There resting on the middle bunk was his shoulder bag. Automatically he glanced back towards the middle of the floor where he had left it. Of course, it wasn't there, but Bernard hadn't even noticed that it was missing. Above him, Alicia laughed. Shaking his head, the elf climbed onto the bed.
"Cute." He moved the bag to rest against the wall before stretching out on the bed.
"I thought so," replied Alicia. Bernard could hear her shifting her position back to where it was before he interrupted.
Silence once again fell between the friends as they listened to the other elves sort themselves out. As he stared at the bottom of Alicia's bunk, Bernard's mind wandered back to Jennifer. No sparkles. The thought kept running through his mind. He had never seen an adult elf without sparkles before. When an elf at the North Pole had their powers manifest, sparkles began appearing on their cheeks. Usually, the fuller the sparkles, the more power that particular elf had. Without the sparkles, it was a little disconcerting how much elves looked like humans.
Suddenly, as Bernard examined what he had dubbed the Sparkles Problem, the young elf realised how little he actually knew about the opposite culture. This thought bothered him. He felt like he should know more. Lucky for him, he just happened to know someone with more connection to the outside world that he had.
Bernard opened his mouth to call out to his friend lying on the bunk above him. However he never got the chance to say anything as she called, "Hey Bernard?"
A slight smile appeared on Bernard's face at the coincidence of the situation, but didn't say anything about it. Instead he answered, "Yes Alicia?"
"Your dad is a close friend of Theon, right?"
"Yeah." Bernard's eyes narrowed slightly. Alicia knew full well that his father and Theon, the head elf, were extremely close friends. They were almost as close as Bernard and Alicia were.
"Then, would Theon maybe have told your father about what's going on at the North Pole?" Alicia continued.
"Probably."
"Then perhaps your dad told you?"
Bernard rolled his eyes at Alicia's roundabout methods. "They're doing some redesigning. There might even be some new buildings added."
"Redesigning?" Alicia rolled over and leaned over the edge of her bunk so she could see Bernard. "I thought your mother was an architect."
"She is."
"And doesn't your father work in –"
"Construction, yes."
Once again Alicia shifted her position. Then her foot appeared on the ladder. She stepped down until she was equal with Bernard's bunk. Shooting him a suspicious look, she asked, "Bernard, how long have you known about this?"
Raising himself up onto his elbows, Bernard shrugged as best as he could. "A couple of weeks," he replied nonchalantly.
"A couple of weeks?" Alicia jumped down the ground, stepping back to glare at her friend. "And you didn't think to inform me?"
Bernard rolled to face her fully. "I didn't know that we were going to be sent away. I just thought that certain areas would be off limits while they worked on them and we'd be allowed to stay. I was as surprised as you when I found out we were being sent here."
Before Alicia could say anything else, Carlin burst in the door carrying an armload of firewood. Beaming he set it down by the fireplace, then stood back up and scanned the room.
"I hope you saved me bunk." The elves exchanged looks. Most had forgotten about the boy who had gone to find them a means of heat. As Carlin watched the exchange, his smile faltered. "You joking, right. You didn't think to save me a bunk?"
Alicia just rolled her eyes before pointing out, "There's eighteen beds for sixteen elves. We're going to have two extra beds anyway so don't worry about it, Carlin."
"Ah. Well, then I'll get started on this fire." A wave of murmuring ran through the room at Carlin's announcement. Everyone would be glad to have some heat in the cabin.
Alicia shook her head as she turned back to Bernard. "So, you didn't know about us being sent away?" she asked, picking up where she had left off.
"What? Oh. No. I didn't know anything about it."
For a moment Alicia thought over the facts. "Alright," she finally said. "I believe you." With that, she swiftly climbed back onto her bunk.
Bernard stayed in the same position for a few seconds, trying to catch up with what just happened. Finally, he shook his head and lay back down. Pillowing his head with his hands, he proceeded to stare off into space. It wasn't long before his mind wandered back to the Southerners.
"Alicia?"
"Hmm?"
"You know a lot about Southerners, don't you?"
"I wouldn't say a lot, but I know a little."
"Tell me about them?"
"Sure." Alicia once again leaned over her bunk. "Why the sudden interest?"
"Well, we are going to be living around them for awhile and I realised that I don't know much about them."
"Ah. Alright then." Alicia rolled back onto her bunk. "You know that our culture branched off from theirs, right?"
"Yeah."
"Do you know why?"
"Not exactly."
"Alright. Well, to understand why that happened, you have to know a bit about Southerners, as in their social structure."
"Go on," prompted Bernard.
Alicia took a deep breath before continuing. "The main difference you'll find between Southern and Northern elves is their emotions. While Northerners feel a wide range of emotions, Southerners limit theirs. I don't really understand how. All I know is they won't feel anything too extreme. They may like you a bit and feel affection towards you, but they'll never fall in love with you. At the same time, though, they don't hate anyone. A Southerner won't go into a sudden rage or be truly excited about something. They're just not extreme people.
"Now, as you know, Northerners are the exact opposite. We're always dabbling in the extreme emotions like love and hate. Where Southerners are solitary, we're social."
Bernard allowed his eyes to drift shut as he continued to listen to his friend's explanations. It was truly fascinating. He wondered in the back of his mind how he could not have heard about all of this. Still, he was hearing it now and he could think of no better person to teach him about it.
x.x.x.
The two hours after their arrival had passed quickly for Bernard. Alicia's explanation hadn't lasted long. She had eventually called a halt to it, saying she was very tired and desired a quick nap. This had surprised Bernard because Alicia was rarely the type to admit fatigue. However, he had not argued with her and spent the rest of his time alternating between talking with some of the other elves in the cabin and thinking.
While Alicia talked, Carlin had managed to get the fire started and the cabin was actually starting to become a comfortable place to live. Alicia awoke shortly before the Northerners decided to seek food in the main building. Though all loathed the thought of leaving their warm abode, their hunger had left them little choice.
There hadn't been any sign of other elves as the small group walked into the clearing. They quickly discovered where everyone had disappeared to, though, as they opened one of the doors. Inside sat almost forty elves, all of varying ages. As soon as the doors opened, the large room had become completely silent. Glances had been exchanged among the Northerners and Bernard had heard a few clearing their throats. Slowly, conversation had returned to the room and the Northerners had all headed to an empty table.
By now the Northerners were half way through their meal and the noise level in the room had returned to a level that could be expected in a room of that size. Thinking back on their entrance, Bernard found himself chuckling. As Alicia would normally be quick point out, it was very cliché.
"Bernard, what's so funny?"
Bernard looked up to see the very person he had been thinking of giving him a suspicious look. Instantly, he cleared the smile from his face and sat up just a little bit straighter. "Nothing, Alicia." The look she gave him proved that she didn't believe him at all. With an innocent smile, Bernard changed the subject. "So, tell me more about Southerners."
"What do you want me to tell you?"
Bernard shrugged. "I don't know. How about appearances."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I've never seen an elf who looked over the age of maybe twenty, but Jennifer looked closer to twenty-five. Why is that?"
There was a moment of silence between the two as Alicia thought about the question. During this short period, Bernard found himself looking out over the other tables. He noticed many Southern elves sharing seats, which didn't make any sense to him. There were enough empty seats at the Northerner's table for the extra Southerners, but no one seemed interested in taking one of those seats. At first, he almost felt insulted. Then, he began thinking about it. If this table had been full of Northerners, would he have opted to sit at one of the Southern tables or would he have shared a seat with Alicia? Already he knew that he would share.
"I'm not sure why exactly." Bernard jumped at the sound of Alicia's voice. Turning, he saw that she was engrossed in thought as she tried to remember everything she knew. Smiling slightly, he began scanning the other elves again. "All I know is Southerners, fully mature Southerners that is, usually look closer to twenty-five whereas we're lucky if we look over eighteen." Alicia finally took the time to look up at her friend. Seeing his gaze wandering around the room, she lightly tapped him on the arm. "Bernard? Are you listening?"
Smiling fully, Bernard turned back around. "Of course I am. Continue."
"I don't know what else to say really. I think I once heard someone mention that Southerners age quicker than Northern elves when they're little and this puts their appearances out of sync with ours."
Bernard once again let his gaze wander as Alicia talked. Nothing truly caught his eye. It was just a collage of different faces. He didn't know any of them and most of them were purposefully avoiding making eye contact. It was this avoidance that was probably responsible for Bernard's sudden interest in a Southern elf across the room from him.
The girl looked to be nine years old making her about the same age as Carlin and Almira. She had long, plain brown hair pulled back in a simple ponytail. Over all, she didn't seem terribly impressive. She was just an average Southern elf eating her dinner. What caught Bernard's attention were the hazel eyes that had locked onto his. She intrigued the Northerner whose gaze was firmly fixed on hers.
Why was she so willing to make contact? Granted, she hadn't walked right up to him and said hello, but even this exchange was more than most others were willing to do. Maybe she was doing this as a dare. Or perhaps it was just to prove that she wasn't intimidated by the strangeness of a different culture. These both made sense and Bernard could think of dozens of other reasons she could have for this boldness, but he quickly decided on simple curiosity. After all, that was why he had been looking around at the other occupants of the room in the first place.
It seemed like forever that they stared at each other, though Bernard knew it was only a few seconds. Neither showed any signs of moving. What finally broke the moment was another Southern elf who had taken a seat by the first. This elf was a blonde of approximately the same age as the brown-haired one. At first, she just said something casually, not even bothering to look up. When she didn't receive a response, the girl spoke again. Bernard guessed that it was probably the other girl's name. Still the blonde got no response. Finally, she followed her friend's gaze to find Bernard watching the scene closely. He smiled when their eyes met. The blonde didn't smile back. Instead, she frowned slightly before turning towards her friend. Tapping her friend's shoulder, she finally got a response. As soon as the first elf turned towards her, the blonde began talking very rapidly. Bernard guessed from the look on the blonde elf's face and the few glances thrown in his direction that the first elf was being reprimanded for her boldness.
This thought disturbed Bernard. He couldn't understand what was wrong with being curious. Yes, his own curiosity had led him into trouble many times, but at least he learned from those experiences. Many other times that same curiosity had benefited him. The young elf frowned as he watched the two elves. He was tempted to go over and defend the brown-haired girl.
"Bernard!" A hand impacted with Bernard's shoulder, bringing his attention back to his table. A quick glance confirmed his suspicion that it was Alicia who had regained his attention.
"I'm sorry," he apologised quickly. "What were you saying?"
Alicia rolled her eyes. "Really, Bernard. You asked about this. At least try to pay attention, alright?"
The young elf smiled slightly. "Alright."
With a sigh and a shake of her head, Alicia began to repeat what she had already said. Yet Bernard still wasn't listening. Instead, he was looking back at the brown-haired girl who had been curious enough to make eye contact. It seemed that whatever her friend told her had an effect since the girl didn't even glance up again. Inwardly sighing, Bernard turned his attention back to his dinner and Alicia's conversation.
x.x.x.
A blast of cold air greeted Bernard as he opened the door to the Northerner's cabin. Quickly, he stepped out onto the steps and shut the door behind him, trying to stop any more heat than necessary from escaping. Once outside, the young elf moved to the left edge of the stairs and sat down. Automatically, he crossed his arms over his chest, trying to ward off the cold. Doesn't this place ever get warm? he thought irritably.
The Northerner's had been in this camp almost a week now and the weather had shown no signs of improving. Then again, neither did the social conditions. There hadn't been any real communications between the two cultures. A few Northerners had tried talking to the Southerners. Their attempts were met with anything from polite excuses to be elsewhere to sneers and actual laughter.
For the most part, Bernard kept to himself. At first, he had tried approaching the brown-haired elf who had made eye contact with him on that first night, but she shied away. He hadn't even managed to speak to her. Eventually, Bernard gave up on actually talking to a Southerner. Besides, from what Alicia told him, he figured that Northerners were probably better company anyway.
The opening of the door behind him broke Bernard from his thoughts. Glancing over his shoulder, he found Alicia exiting the cabin. Without saying anything she sat down beside her friend.
"I thought you were sleeping."
"I was. Now I'm sitting out in the frigid air with an insane friend of mine." Alicia turned to Bernard. "C'mon. Let's go inside where it's warm."
A smile found it's way onto Bernard's face. So that's why she came out here. You worry about me too much, Alicia, he thought to his friend, though he knew she couldn't hear him. Out loud, he said, "Nah. I came out here to wake up a bit. I was starting to doze off inside and since I'm going to be in bed in a few hours, I decided to avoid taking a nap. Besides, it's nice being able to spend some time alone."
Alicia nodded and stood up. "I'll leave then."
Without even having to look, Bernard grabbed his friend's hand and pulled her back down. "Don't worry. I don't mind your company."
Alicia grinned wickedly. "Having problems, eh?"
"I'm an only child Alicia. Of course I'm having trouble living with fifteen other elves."
Alicia laughed. "Now you understand how I feel about my sister."
"Yes, but that's only one person. Much easier to deal with."
"You haven't tried living with her."
Shaking his head, Bernard dropped the subject. He had been down this road with Alicia before. Never had he managed to convince her that her sister wasn't that bad to be around. With a soft sigh, he returned his gaze to the clearing.
Dinner had been over for a few hours. It was almost dark now, but there were still a few elves wandering about the area. The majority of the groups found outside were Southern. Still, Bernard could make out a group of three Northerners by the main building. Wondering who else was outside, Bernard let his eyes continue scanning the clearing.
"Hey, Bernard?"
"Yeah?" Bernard glanced at her to see that she too was looking into the clearing.
"Is that Carlin?" A pale hand pointed off to the right.
Following his friend's finger, the first thing that Bernard saw was two very familiar elves walking along one of the paths towards a cabin set back into the woods. The brown-haired elf that had been the topic of many of Bernard's musings was deep in conversation with her blonde friend. Remembering that he was supposed to be looking for Carlin, Bernard tore his gaze away only to find Carlin walking towards the two Southern girls.
"Yeah, I think so," Bernard finally said.
"When did he come outside?"
"While you were sleeping. I noticed him leave."
"He probably needed a break from his sister."
Bernard laughed. "Probably."
"Who's avoiding his sister?"
Startled, the friends whirled around only to find Almira standing behind them.
"N-no one, Almira," Alicia stuttered out.
Almira didn't look convinced, but she dropped the subject, opting for looking over the clearing. Suddenly she tensed. "Is that my brother over there?"
"Probably. Why?"
However, no answer came from the older elf, who had slipped past the two friends and was currently sprinting across the clearing. The elves left sitting on the steps exchanged looks before turning their attention back towards the last place they saw Carlin.
The scene had changed drastically. Carlin had already intercepted the girls and, presumably talked to them. Now, the brown-haired girl had a look of disgust on her face. Her friend, on the other hand, merely seemed shocked and possibly horrified. Bernard could see the blonde's mouth moving, trying to form words. For some reason, he didn't think that there was any sound coming from her despite her attempts.
"What…?" Bernard trailed off. This didn't make any sense. Carlin wasn't the sort of person to say something that would shock someone, especially a girl. Usually, he was polite and good-humoured. Most girls really liked him. Lucky for them, he really liked them too. Mentally Bernard shrugged. Everyone has their flaws. Still, none of this explained what was so shocking to those Southerners.
Turning his attention back to the scene, Bernard saw that Almira had arrived. Instantly, she stepped up to her brother and whispered something in his ear. A strange look crossed Carlin's features. Rapidly saying something to the girls, Carlin hurried back towards the Northerner's cabin. Almira stayed a few seconds longer, talking just as quickly as her brother had. Both of the Southerner's nodded at her words before continuing on their way, albeit a little quicker than before.
Turning on her heel, Almira once again sprinted towards her brother. He wasn't far from the cabin when she caught up with him. Glaring, she hit him upside the head and sped up her pace, muttering under her breath. Bernard watched her curiously as she stormed past, letting the cabin door bang shut behind her. Alicia smothered a laugh.
Carlin wasn't far behind his sister. Slowly he climbed the stairs, blushing furiously. For a moment he paused and turned to look down at the only two elves in the vicinity. Seeing Bernard's curious expression and Alicia's amused one, the boy quickly turned and entered the cabin.
Finally, Alicia let herself start laughing outright. Bernard was confused. What was so funny? After waiting a few seconds for Alicia to explain, Bernard asked, "What just happened?"
Struggling to catch her breath, Alicia gave her friend a strange look. "You're kidding, right?" At Bernard's uncomprehending look, Alicia rolled her eyes. "You really didn't listen to me on that first night, did you?" A slight blush crept onto Bernard's cheeks. "Well, if you had listened you'd know that Southerners age faster than we do."
It suddenly made sense to Bernard. Carlin's reputation, the response of those girls to whatever he had said, Almira's hasty and annoyed reaction.
"Oh no," moaned Bernard.
"Oh yes."
"How young were they?"
"Those girls? Oh, probably about our age."
Bernard smiled slightly. "That must have been quite a shock for them."
"Probably."
Shaking his head, Bernard stood up. "C'mon, Alicia. Let's go inside. I somehow doubt that anything is going to top that."
Alicia's grin widened. "Besides, I wouldn't mind seeing how Carlin deals with all the questions about that blush plus his sister's annoyance."
Helping his friend up, Bernard shook his head at her last statement. "You have a cruel and vicious sense of humour Alicia."
"I know."
Alicia pulled open the door and walked back into the warmth of their small abode.
x.x.x.
Alicia groaned as she rolled over on her bunk. Still half asleep, the young elf managed to burrow deeper into her blankets while pulling her pillow firmly over her head. A soft sigh went unheard from the bunk below her. Shaking his head in amazement, Bernard stared up at Alicia's bunk. In his opinion, it was a miracle that Alicia could sleep with all the noise inside and out of the small cabin.
Sighing again, Bernard turned his back to the wall so he could gaze out at the rest of the elves. Various groups were scattered around. Some sat on bunks, others on the floor and still more leaned against any available wall space. All except a few of the Northerners were up and chatting. Coupled with the howling wind and the sounds of the house settling, Bernard found the noise level loud enough to banish any hopes of sleep he might've had.
With an annoyed groan, Bernard shifted back to his former position on his back. In the three and a half weeks he had been here, more things were starting to irritate him. If he was willing to be honest with himself, the young elf could easily pinpoint the source his frustrations – homesickness. He missed his parents and his home. Many nights he found himself longing for his own bed, his own room. The young elf wasn't sure how much longer he could stand to be trapped here with the same company day in and day out. If only some Southerners would talk to them or if Alicia wasn't always so tired it might just be bearable. Unfortunately, that didn't seem to be the way it worked here. Another forlorn sigh escaped Bernard's lips as his thoughts wandered towards home.
He was interrupted by an annoyed exclamation from below him. Rolling over, he looked down to see one of the younger elves pawing through her bag. Her normally tidy dark hair was falling out of its ponytail, giving the girl a harried appearance.
"Ianthe?" The girl stopped her search and turned her hazel eyes upward only to find Bernard watching her curiously. "What are doing?"
"Looking for something." Digging down into her bag, the girl felt around for a few seconds before pulling her hand out. "It's not here," she sighed, slumping dejectedly on her bed.
"What were you looking for?"
"My notebook. I write everything in there. It's really special to me and I take it everywhere I go. Except back to where it's supposed to be, apparently." The girl looked up, tears shining in her eyes. "I can't believe I lost it."
Taking sympathy on her, Bernard climbed down from his bunk. Sitting beside Ianthe, he softly asked. "Well, where did you last see your notebook?"
"At dinner."
"Alright. Then I suggest that's where you start looking."
"I don't have a coat. It hasn't been a problem until this wind started up and now it's night. It's too cold for me to go outside."
Bernard looked away. He knew that he shouldn't be doing this. Like Ianthe said, it was cold outside and, more importantly, it was late. Still, he couldn't help feeling sorry for her. With a sigh he stood up and climbed back up to his bunk. After looking around for a few seconds, he found what he was looking for and climbed back down. Ianthe looked at him strangely. Seeing her look, Bernard smiled and held up Alicia's coat.
"Thank you, Bernard, but that coat would be too big for me."
A laugh escaped Bernard before he could stop it. "I know, Ianthe. I was going to offer to go out and look for your notebook for you, before someone else finds it."
With a gasp, Ianthe shot up from her bed. "I couldn't ask you to do that!"
"And you didn't." Bernard smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. It's not a problem for me. Besides, if I find it in the main building, I'll be back here in just a few minutes."
Slowly, a smile made it's way onto Ianthe's face. "Thank you, Bernard."
He nodded as he slipped on the coat. With a final grin, he gave a small wave and turned towards the door. After a few steps, Bernard turned and darted back to his bunk. When he came back down, he was carrying his shoulder bag. Ianthe was once again giving the older elf a strange look.
For a moment Bernard just stood there giving her a similarly strange look. Then he realised why she was confused. Chuckling, he slipped his shoulder bag on.
"Habit."
Giving another small wave, he turned and quickly slipped out the door before anyone noticed him.
x.x.x.
It had been almost ten minutes since Bernard left the Northerner's cabin and he was still wandering around the area looking for Ianthe's notebook. It hadn't been in the main building or anywhere along the path between there and the cabin from where he had come. Of course, he hadn't expected it to be in either of these places. It was likely that someone had already found it. The elf could only hope that they had given it to one of the adults so it could be returned to the proper owner.
Despite this hopeful thought, Bernard couldn't help feeling guilty returning to the cabin without the book. It was why he was still out there. He didn't want to disappoint Ianthe. Sighing, the elf looked up at the cloudy night sky as he pondered his situation. Finally, he came to the conclusion that he wasn't going to find the notebook and he might as well head back. After all, what was the point of wandering deeper into the forest than Ianthe had even gone? Wrapping his arms around himself, Bernard headed back towards the warmth of his cabin.
"Sorry, Ianthe."
"Hmm. I wonder who this Ianthe is," said a male voice from behind Bernard.
Startled, the younger elf whirled around to see a Southern elf standing behind him. The older elf had a condescending smirk on his face as he looked out of eyes Bernard guessed were green. His dark blonde hair was carefully brushed so it would remain out of his face.
"She's probably his girlfriend or something."
Another Southerner stepped up beside the first. He looked about the same age and had the same sort of smirk. This elf's eyes appeared to be blue and his hair was light enough to be blonde. It was difficult to tell in the dark.
"If she is his girlfriend, it doesn't sound like he's going to have a good night."
Bernard saw movement to his right and turned slightly to see yet another elf stepping forward. The newcomer peered at Bernard through dark eyes that were half hidden behind even darker bangs. There wasn't the slightest sign of expression on his face, which Bernard found more unsettling than the looks the other two had.
"Is he even old enough to be looking at girls, much less be romantically involved?"
The first elf laughed while the second responded with, "Well put, Landon." Landon bowed his head slightly to show his acknowledgement of the compliment.
A sinking feeling appeared in Bernard's stomach. This situation didn't look good. All of his instincts were telling him to make a run for it. Against his better judgement, though, he stayed.
"May–may I help you with something?" asked Bernard, glancing between the three elves.
"My, my. Aren't we polite?" sneered the second elf. "Is there something he can do for us, Bennet?"
Bernard expected the response to come from the first elf, but instead it came from behind him.
"We'll just have to see about that, now won't we?"
A hand descended onto the collar of Bernard's coat. Automatically, he twisted out of it, dropping his shoulder bag in the process and whirled around to face the new elf.
However, instead of facing one elf, Bernard had turned to face two. The one holding the coat was a large figure with long dark brown hair that fell around his face chaotically. The second elf was leaning against a tree with his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes were closed and his dusty brown hair fell forward, making him look as though he wasn't paying any attention at all. Bernard suspected that this supposedly indifferent figure was Bennet.
"Gee, Fergus," called the second elf. "That looks like a real nice coat. Toss it here."
The elf holding Alicia's coat grinned. "Sure thing, Demas." Fergus easily lobbed the coat to his friend.
"Hey!" cried Bernard, heading towards Demas, determined to get his friend's coat back.
"Fergus. Winston."
As soon as their names were said, Fergus and the first elf, Winston, moved forward towards Bernard. Instinctively, the Northerner backed away. Unfortunately, he had forgotten about the fifth elf. He was abruptly reminded of his presence when he backed into him. Looking up, Bernard saw the corners of Landon's mouth quirking up in amusement. The young Northerner didn't have time to comprehend his situation before Landon shoved him forward. The stumbling boy was easily caught by Winston and Fergus, who grasped his arms tightly.
"Let me go!" cried Bernard as he struggled in their painful grip. Mentally the boy kicked himself for not running when he had the chance.
"Demas!" Landon called.
Grinning, Demas tossed the coat to the other elf. Turning, the blonde glanced at Bernard before heading to where Fergus had been standing. Bernard's eyes followed him. "Hmm, I wonder what we have here." The Southerner bent down and picked up Bernard's shoulder bag.
"Leave that alone!" shouted Bernard, renewing his struggles. The shoulder bag was given to him by his mother to make sure he didn't loose anything he was carrying. She wouldn't be happy if she heard that Bernard had lost it.
Of course, Bernard's shout had only increased Demas' enjoyment of the situation. Grinning, he examined the bag, opening it and perusing its contents. The Northerner glared daggers at the other elf.
A sharp laugh broke Bernard's glaring. All eyes had turned to Landon who was examining the coat. Stepping up to the struggling boy he held up the left sleeve, which he had turned inside out, to reveal a small, carefully placed nametag. The name clearly spelled out was 'Alicia'.
Mentally, Bernard groaned. He remembered Alicia's mother giving her that nametag and insisting that she placed it somewhere in her coat. Disgusted with the mere thought of it, Alicia had hidden it in a place where most people wouldn't have thought to look. Apparently, this Landon wasn't like most people.
"So is that your name then, boy?" laughed Winston in his ear. "Alicia?"
"That's not my name."
"Sure, kid. Whatever you say," guffawed Fergus.
Brown eyes narrowed and swept over the elves, looking for someone to glare at. Bernard finally settled on Demas who had practically emptied the shoulder bag and was now strolling up to younger elf.
"I like this bag. It's very good quality," he commented as he approached. Standing only a few feet away from the struggling boy, he grinned broadly. "I'm sure you won't mind if I take it, will you Alicia?"
Without even thinking about it, Bernard kicked out at Demas. Although the elf tried to side-step the kick, Bernard's feet still managed to hit the side of his leg, knocking the Southerner off balance. Growling as he pushed himself up, Demas rose with his hand already clenched in a fist. As soon as he was on his feet, he let that fist fly towards Bernard. The impact caused Bernard to loose his balance. Blinking owlishly up at Demas, the young elf tried to regain his senses. He had never been punched before and he was already regretting his impulsive action.
Before he had time to think any farther on the situation, Winston and Fergus pulled Bernard back up from his position between them only to have Demas knock him down again. Demas was about to hit the boy in front of him a third time when a hand landed on his shoulder, pulling him back.
"Play nice, Demas," Bennet admonished. "You really should hit him like that."
Relief filled Bernard as he watched Demas back down. With his focus completely on the blonde elf, the Northerner didn't notice Bennet's amused smirk as he looked at the boy. Bernard's feelings of relief were quickly banished as Bennet's fist impacted with his mouth, splitting his lip.
"It's much more interesting if you're not as rough." Demas nodded as Bennet stepped back, allowing the other Southerner to close in on Bernard again.
Terrified, Bernard resumed his struggles, trying desperately to pull away from Fergus and Winston, but it was to no avail as Demas began raining down punches. I should've run, thought Bernard. A well place punch brought stars to his eyes. I really should've run.
x.x.x.
Cold was the first thing that registered to Bernard's senses. Everything around him was cold – the night air, the wind. Even the ground was freezing. The ground? Why am I on the ground? he asked himself, disorientated. Bernard began to sit up. He hadn't gotten far before everything came flooding back.
Everything including the pain.
Gasping, Bernard let himself fall back to his former position. Ow. Not going to try that again for a while. Trying to relax as much as he could, Bernard began to take inventory of his injuries. One of the most painful injuries that Bernard noticed were his ribs. Annoying things. Concentrating, Bernard began taking shallower breaths to accommodate the injury.
The next thing to jump to Bernard's mind was his face. It felt like it was on fire. Although this was a nice change from the chill that seemed to be permanently ingrained everywhere else, the mass of bruises that the elf was sure resided there weren't very pleasant. Then again, nothing felt truly pleasant right now. Bernard's entire body was engulfed in pain. Currently he wasn't sure if he could move anything at all. Half-heartedly, he wiggled his toes. At least my legs aren't broken, he thought semi-triumphantly. Though I don't see how wiggling my toes helps me to get up.
The thought of lying where he was until help came seemed appealing to Bernard. After toying with the idea for a few seconds, Bernard discarded it. He was already cold and waiting for help lost its appeal in the face of the weather. Besides, he might have to wait until morning before anyone came and there was no way to tell how long he had been unconscious.
A resounding crack suddenly echoed through the quiet woods. Instantly, Bernard's attention became focused on his surroundings. For the first time since he had woken up, the elf tried to open his eyes. Thus far he had avoided this action. Now that he tried, he found only his left eye would open. The right one seemed determined to stay shut. Giving up on getting both eyes open, Bernard turned his head slightly, trying to see more of the area where the sound had come from.
The action was definitely a mistake. A headache that had been barely noticeable before now flared into painful existence. Even worse was what Bernard could see through his supposedly good eye. Everything in view seemed fuzzy and kept slipping in and out of focus. The added lack of depth perception made his viewing experience even worse. Groaning, Bernard allowed his eye to close and slowly returned his head to its former position.
Fighting back a nauseous feeling, Bernard almost missed the sound of voices approaching him. At first, a feeling of panic washed through him. He wasn't in any condition to deal with those five Southerners right now. His fears were quickly banished as he listened closer. The approaching voices were female. In his relief he almost forgot that at least two unknown women were coming towards his position. He was abruptly reminded when one of the girls called softly, "Over here, Kendra!"
The brush rustled, heralding the arrival of the girls whose voices Bernard had already heard. "Who is it?" whispered the elf that had called out earlier.
"I don't know," responded another. Bernard assumed this was Kendra. "I think it's one of the Northerners."
The sound of feet softly padding across the grass reached Bernard's ears. One of the girls knelt down beside him. A warm hand grasped his. Another hand quickly joined the first. Whoever was holding his hand proceeded to rub it, trying to warm it up.
More footsteps approached. "Kendra, I think we should leave."
The rubbing stopped. "Why?"
"It's not safe for us to be here. What if his friends find us here and think that we did this? Or, worse, what if Bennet and his group come back? I doubt they'll be happy to find out we helped him."
"Nicole, you worry too much." The Southerner now identified as Nicole hmphed at her friend's statement. "I'm being completely serious. Bennet and the others were headed back to their cabin and I don't think they'll be out again tonight. As for his friends, I'd welcome their appearance. Then they could take care of him, but they aren't here so it's left to us."
"What if he tells someone about us helping him?"
"Nicole, if you'd take a few seconds to look at him, I think you'll find that he's unconscious."
There was a moment of silence where Bernard guessed Nicole was examining him. The Northerner tried to become as still as possible. From the conversation that had passed between the two, he surmised neither would be willing to help him should he show signs of being awake. He also knew getting back to his cabin alone would be difficult and fairly painful. Resisting the urge to hold his breath, Bernard listened for any sign that Nicole didn't believe his act.
Finally, Nicole broke the silence. "He seems familiar."
"The Northerners have been here for almost a month now."
"Yeah, but it's more than that."
Another pause came in the conversation. "He is familiar," Kendra eventually agreed. More silence followed during which Bernard guessed the girls were trying to place him. Neither of these girls sounded familiar to him and it was starting to bother him. Why would he look more familiar than the other Northerners?
"We'll worry about it later," Kendra declared.
"I agree. If we're going to help him, let's at least hurry. I don't want to be out here longer than necessary."
"Fine. I doubt his ribs came through this unscathed so let's start there."
Bernard barely had time to brace himself before the girls slowly pulled him up into sitting position. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't stop himself from groaning when his ribs shifted. His groans were met by a gasp.
"Kendra," hissed Nicole urgently, "I think he's waking up!"
"Don't be silly. People can groan when they're unconscious."
"But, Kendra, what if he is waking up?"
"Nicole, does he look like he's waking up?"
"No. Not really."
"Then stop worrying." Kendra shifted her position from behind Bernard slightly. "Now, come back here and hold him up. I'll take care of his ribs."
The girls proceeded to switch positions. Although he knew they were trying their best not to jostle him too much, Bernard couldn't help but wince as Nicole situated herself behind him. Kendra, meanwhile, had moved to his side. In the silence that followed, Bernard tried to readjust his breathing to fit with his new position.
After what seemed like an eternity, Bernard heard the soft rustle of fabric just before Nicole gasped.
"Kendra!" she exclaimed softly. "Put that back on!"
"Look, I don't have anything else to wrap his ribs with. Do you?" The sound of tearing fabric punctuated each of Kendra's statements.
"No, but what if someone were to come along and see you?"
"We've already had this discussion, Nicole. Besides, I still have my coat."
Nicole made a disgusted sound. "There's just no reasoning with you."
"No," replied Kendra distractedly. "Alright. I think that's enough. Let's try and sit him up straighter."
Once again the two girls shifted Bernard. When he was in a more upright position, Kendra carefully pulled his shirt up. The sudden cold air on his chest caused the Northerner to gasp slightly. He hadn't thought he was that warm. Luckily, his gasp appeared to have gone unnoticed.
Gently, Kendra ran her fingers along Bernard's sides. "I was right," she said pulling back. "His ribs did take quite a beating. I'm also guessing that he won't be eating anything too substantial for awhile."
"Can we just get on with it?"
"Sorry."
Without further delay, Kendra began to wrap the torn fabric around Bernard's injured ribs. The wrapping of his ribs didn't feel any better. In fact, it hurt quite a bit. However, once Kendra had completed her task, Bernard found himself willing to admit that it did feel slightly better, though they still hurt. In general, having abused ribs wasn't fun and Bernard vowed to avoid the situation in the future.
Once Kendra had finished, Bernard's shirt was pulled back down and he was slowly lowered back to the ground. The sound of shifting fabric let Bernard know that Kendra had put her coat back on. After she was finished with that, the girls shifted positions once again. One of them was now sitting next to Bernard's head while the other took up position by his side.
"What now?" asked Nicole. Bernard guessed that she was the one by his side.
"Hand me your water bottle. I want to get some of this blood and dirt cleaned off. I can't tell anything as it is now."
The sound of sloshing water signalled the exchange of the bottle. Various sounds of water moving followed until, finally, a damp cloth descended onto Bernard's face. At first he flinched. The cloth hid his reaction and once again it went unnoticed. Slowly and meticulously, the cloth was brought over his face, starting with his left side. It still hurt, despite the light touch, yet the cool fabric felt good on the bruises.
It took some time, but Kendra finally finished the job. The cloth was removed and replaced by a pair of small hands. Gently, the girl moved Bernard's head slightly to the side. It quickly became apparent that examining his face was the girl's intent as she drew in close enough for Bernard to feel her breath on his cheek. After turning his head to the other side, the Southerner finally released him.
"It's not actually as bad as it first appeared. Those bruises look painful and I'd avoid smiling too much until that split lip heals. Over all, though, he should be fine in a few weeks." Her voice changed slightly as she continued. Bernard guessed that she was smiling. "His nose isn't even broken."
"That probably qualifies as miraculous."
Kendra laughed lightly.
"So, does this mean we're done here?"
"No. We need to get him back to his cabin so he can warm up. Plus, his friends are probably starting to worry about him." Before Nicole could protest, Kendra continued in a rush. "Don't worry. I have a plan. They won't even know that we were there. Please, Nicole. I can't carry him there by myself."
"Alright," sighed Nicole.
"Thank you."
"I expect you to repay me for all this."
"I know."
"Then let's go."
Swiftly, the girls stood and moved into position. One pair of hands grabbed Bernard's ankles while the other gently worked its way under his shoulders. Carefully, they lifted the Northerner up and began walking towards his cabin.
They had only advanced a short distance before Kendra stopped suddenly. "Nicole, I figured it out."
"Figured out what?"
"I figured out why he's so familiar. Here, let's put him down." The girls slowly lowered the injured boy onto the ground. "Remember that Northerner who was looking around on the first night and we ended up having that staring fest?"
"Yes. What of it?"
"It's him. It's the same Northerner. You do realise what this means, don't you?" asked Kendra kneeling down beside Bernard's head.
"No, Kendra, I don't. What does it matter anyway? It's the same boy. Who cares? We'll probably never see him again after this and he won't remember our help so why is it important?"
"Nicole, it's partially our fault that he got hurt."
"What? That ridiculous."
"Think about it. Those five have never liked us. They must have seen us staring at him. That's probably why they decided to corner him If we had ignored him maybe none of this would have happened."
Nicole softened her tone as she knelt beside her friend. "Kendra, it's not our fault. It's probably just a strange coincidence. After all, he did make the perfect target – he was out late by himself and away from the clearing where someone might've seen. It's not our fault this happened. Get up and we'll take him back to his cabin, alright?"
Sighing, Kendra stood back up. "Alright."
Soon, the girls were headed towards the Northerner's cabin with the young elf carried between them. Bernard was glad they made the rest of the journey in silence. It gave him time to sort through this new information. Before he had assumed these two girls were just being kind-hearted. It hadn't occurred to him that they could be the same two Southerners he found himself wondering about so often. Thinking back over their conversation, Bernard finally came to the conclusion that it did seem to fit. Kendra must be the brown-haired elf who had made eye contact. Throughout this ordeal, she had always been the most concerned for his well-being.
Bernard's thoughts were interrupted by their arrival at the cabin. Again, the girls carefully lowered Bernard to the ground. Off to his left, the Northerner could hear various noises coming from inside. If they're still up, then I couldn't have been unconscious for too long, reasoned Bernard.
"What now?" whispered Nicole.
"Now you're going to head back to our cabin. I can handle things from here."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I am. Now go. The quicker you leave the quicker I can finish this."
"Alright. Just don't take too long."
"I promise."
With a sigh, Nicole left Kendra standing beside Bernard. For a moment, the remaining Southerner didn't move. Once the other girl was gone, Kendra knelt down beside Bernard again.
"I know you're awake," she whispered into his ear.
Bernard started at that statement. Automatically, his eyes, or rather eye, flew open as far as it would go. However, his vision was still off and, with the added darkness, he couldn't make anything out. He let his eye close again, focusing on what Kendra was saying.
"I can only stay for a few minutes or Nicole will be worried. I am sorry about what happened to you. I know Nicole doesn't think it's our fault, but I can't help believing that we had something to do with what happened tonight. Either way, I'm sorry. I hope this won't taint your image of Southerners too much." She paused for a moment. "My main reason for staying was to ask a favour of you. You already know Nicole's fears about someone finding out we helped you. I realise it sounds selfish and cowardly, but I do share her concerns. I stayed to ask you not to tell anyone that it was us who helped you. It would be better if this were kept secret, even from your friends. Will you please do this for us?"
Bernard nodded.
Nothing more was said. Instead, Kendra stood back up and walked away. The sound of the wooden steps leading up to the cabin creaking under her weight was followed by a loud knocking that rang through the night. Any hopes Bernard had of hearing where Kendra went were dashed when the cacophony of noise from inside peaked as the door was flung open.
"Hello?" It took Bernard a few seconds to place the voice as belonging to Daniel, an older elf and one of Carlin's close friends. Daniel called out again, jerking Bernard from his thoughts.
Knowing he had very little time, Bernard struggled to find a way to avoid answering questions about who had helped him. After some quick thinking, he finally decided that it would be easiest to pretend that he didn't remember anything. Besides protecting Kendra and Nicole, it would lessen the time he had to spend explaining what happened. This decided, Bernard let out a low moan, hoping to attract Daniel's attention.
It worked. Daniel instantly came rushing down the stairs. "Bernard?" he asked, taking in the battered form in front of him. "Bernard, can you hear me?" The elf in question moaned again, shifting his position slightly. "Come on, Bernard. Wake up!"
Finally Bernard allowed himself to open his left eye. He found Daniel leaning over him, a look of concern etched onto his face, which was lit up by the light filtering down from the doorway. Groaning, Bernard began to push himself up.
"Daniel? What hap–" He stopped, gasping as his ribs complained about his movement. "–pened?"
"I was about to ask you that. Here. Let me help you up."
With Daniel's assistance, Bernard managed to stand. As soon as he was upright, a wave of dizziness washed over him. It was certain that he would've fallen had the older elf not been there to catch him.
Closing his eye, Bernard moaned.
"Let's get you inside, Bernard."
Bernard nodded his agreement, but instantly regretted it as another dizzy spell hit him. Once again, Daniel managed to catch him and right his balance. Keeping a firm grip on the younger elf's arm, Daniel helped him climb the stairs and enter the room. As soon as the pair walked over the threshold, all conversation stopped. Ignoring this, Daniel brought Bernard over to one of the empty bunks.
Between the aching of his ribs, the nausea caused by the walk and the headache that the light was causing, Bernard felt truly awful. As the other elves in the room began to whisper around him, he found himself moaning, only this time it wasn't because of his injuries. Maybe spending the night outside wasn't such a bad idea. At least it would've been quiet out there. With this thought in mind, Bernard allowed Daniel to push him back into a horizontal position.
"What happened?" asked one of the other elves.
"I don't know," responded Daniel distractedly as he began to check Bernard over. "You'll have to ask him. I just found him lying outside."
"Well, Bernard?" demanded a sharp female voice that could only belong to Almira.
"I don't know."
"What do you mean?"
"I…don't remember."
"Are you sure?" Carlin asked, stepping past his sister to stand near the head of the bed.
"Carlin!" reprimanded Daniel.
Ignoring Daniel's outburst, Bernard opened his eye partially so he could see Carlin. "Yes, I'm sure. The last thing I remember I was out looking for Ianthe's notebook. She'd left it outside."
"Ianthe is asleep."
Closing his eye again, Bernard leaned back into the pillows. He could already feel himself drifting off. "She wasn't when I left," he murmured.
"Bernard?" asked Daniel softly, bringing Bernard out of is half-asleep state. "You don't remember who took care of you, do you?" Bernard shook his head negatively. "Oh. That's a pity. Whoever cleaned you up did a pretty good job."
"Yeah," murmured Bernard, drifting off again. "She did."
Giving the injured boy a strange look, Carlin opened his mouth to say something. Seeing this, Daniel shot his friend a disapproving look. Carlin frowned, obviously annoyed, but said nothing. Satisfied, Daniel returned his attention to Bernard.
"You probably want to get some sleep now, right?"
"That'd be nice."
"We'll try to keep it down, then."
Daniel gave Carlin another pointed look. Glowering at his friend, Carlin began shooing the other Northerners away from the bunk. After shooting Bernard one last look, he left as well. Only Daniel was left standing near the bed. With a reassuring smile, he pulled a blanket off a nearby bunk and put it over the injured boy.
"You'll be fine in a few days. Just don't overtax yourself, alright?"
Stifling a yawn, Bernard nodded. Daniel shot him one last smile before leaving to join the other elves.
Sighing, Bernard let his eye close as he relaxed. That went better than he had expected. Everyone seemed fine with his story. Of course, that was only tonight. Tomorrow was going to be very interesting, but that was tomorrow. For now, all that Bernard was interested in was getting some sleep.
x.x.x.
If Bernard thought the first three and a half weeks went by slowly, then time almost slowed to a halt over the next few days.
The morning after his run-in with Bennet was rather hectic. Everyone had been showing their concern for Bernard and there had been many more questions to evade. At first, there was no escape from them, but by midday, Bernard had started to plead exhaustion.
Once she had found out what happened, Ianthe started apologising and was doing so continuously. Bernard tried to reassure her that it wasn't her fault. Of course, she was determined not to believe him and had been constantly by his side trying to take care of him. Bernard had a feeling that if he had asked her to change the weather outside she would have tried her absolute best to do just that. This treatment got old quickly.
The only reprieve he had from the mother-henning of the other elves was Alicia. Somehow she managed to keep everyone away with a single glare. Bernard often found himself wondering how she managed it. However, even Alicia's company was tainted. Her obvious worry for him appeared as soon as Bernard showed any signs of discomfort. Even worse was the look she kept giving him every time he claimed to have no memory of what happened. It was surprisingly similar to the look that Carlin had given him on the night of the event.
After the first few days, Bernard was feeling well enough to get up and move around. Once this happened, the attention seemed to wane, a fact for which Bernard was eternally thankful. When he thought back on it, though, Bernard found that he didn't mind the attention any more. It was nice knowing these elves would worry over him when he was injured.
Once, when he mentioned it to Alicia, she had jokingly replied, "Don't dwell on it too much. You see, no one wants to explain this to your mother so we've all been making sure that you're well enough to do it." Despite the possible truth behind this statement, Bernard was still flattered by their concern.
As the week drew to a close, Bernard found his health much improved. Most of the minor bruises had faded and the split lip was almost gone. The only remnants of his encounter with Bennet and his friends were his ribs, which still caused him pain, and his eyes. While the left one would be back to normal in another day or two, the other was still slightly swollen. Luckily, it had already healed enough for Bernard to open it again.
Bernard's rapid recovery wasn't the only good event. A letter from Rachel arrived towards the end of the week. It merely said that the construction had progressed far enough for the children to return home and she would be there to pick them up in four days. This news had brought a great deal of joy to the Northerners. Apparently, Bernard wasn't the only one who had been homesick.
The days after the arrival of Rachel's letter seemed to pass quickly. There was much celebrating in the Northerner's cabin. Whether the Southerners were glad of the Northerners' imminent departure was unknown. Most of the Northerners avoided the occupants of the surrounding cabins. Bernard wasn't sure, but it seemed the Southerners had been more anti-social recently. Either way, he didn't think it mattered. It was likely that none of them would ever see a Southerner again, much less these Southerners. Besides, he didn't truly care to ever leave the North Pole again.
It was the evening before Rachel's much anticipated arrival when Bernard was reminded of something that would make a trip from the North Pole tolerable.
Everyone was scattered around the cabin, packing their belongings. Bernard had finished quickly, seeing as most of his things were still in his shoulder bag, which he hadn't seen since Demas took it. Presumably one of that group was still in possession of it. It didn't really matter if they were. Bernard wasn't about to demand it back. Besides risking another beating, that would show he was lying about not remembering. Instead, he decided to be content with the fact that he still had some of his things left.
His lack of property to pack was probably the reason that Bernard was nominated to open the door if anyone should knock. Of course, just as he was getting comfortable on one of the remaining bunks, someone knocked on the door to their cabin. All eyes locked onto Bernard. Grumbling, the young elf pushed himself up. When he swung the door open, though, no one was on the other side. A slight frown creased his brow as the boy stepped forward, looking for anyone who could've knocked. No one was in the immediate area.
As he turned to head back inside, something caught Bernard's eye. Sitting on the second step was a familiar shoulder bag. The young elf grabbed the bag. Balancing the retrieved bag on the stair rail, Bernard opened it nervously. The first thing that caught his eye was a small notebook carefully placed on the top of the other items. When the first page was revealed, Bernard's suspicions that this was Ianthe's missing book were confirmed. Setting aside the notebook, Bernard proceeded to pull out a familiar coat. Alicia will be happy to have this back, he thought as he put that aside as well. After digging around the bag a little, Bernard was satisfied most of his belongings were inside and he closed the bag.
As the top flap covered the opening, Bernard froze. Pinned to the top of the bag was a small folded scrap of paper. How did I miss that? Bernard asked himself, carefully removing the paper. Unfolding it revealed a quickly scrawled message. It merely said 'Thank you.'
Bernard flipped the paper over looking for more words, but found nothing. Not to be deterred, he looked out over the clearing, half expecting to see the brown-haired elf gazing back at him. Once again there was nothing, not even her blonde friend. With a soft sigh, Bernard put the note into his bag, then picked up Alicia's coat and Ianthe's notebook and headed towards the cabin door. After taking one last hopeful look around the clearing, the young Northerner opened the door and went to join the others as they prepared to return to the world they had always known.
x.x.x.
Closing Notes (like you actually want to hear more from me): Well thanks for reading. I am still working on Part Two: Meetings, but hopefully it will be done and posted soon. However, I've given up on giving estimates. School makes my writing much too unpredictable.
Anyways, I think that this turned out well, but I might be a little biased so leave a review to let me know what you think! Constructive criticism is always welcomed. Flames will be laughed at and praise will be blushed over. Also, if you want to send me an email, please let me know in the subject that what you're sending me isn't junk mail of some sort. The title of the story and/or the word review would probably be sufficient.
Until next part!