Bernard and Jack Chapter 3:
"Santa, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He said through his tears.
Suddenly a flash of golden light lit up the room. It was Mother Nature. She saw the damaged window and sighed. 'So it begins.'
She waved her arms at the elf and his wounds were healed. She waved her arms again A band of black metal appeared around his neck, while two silver bracelets appeared around each wrists. Mother Nature began to sing the ancient elf magic binding ritual.
Bernard squirmed in Neil's arms when he felt the power coursing into the three bands. He scratched at them in a frantic attempt to remove them before the ritual song ended. Once the song ended he laid down exhausted.
Carol watched the sign with pity shining in her eyes. She turned to her husband. "We need to do something. He's hurting."
Mother Nature looked at them with tears in her eyes. "In ages pasts, some elves had extreme magical power such as the Trivoly did. Sometimes their young ones could not handle such power. They would have to be bound to trusted members of their families or friends until the day when they had learned the control needed. I bound him to the two of you as you are the closest thing he has to family. I will send Jack to the two of you so that he can help you teach him this control."
Scene 1:
Scott and Neil had moved the tired elf back to the couch in the living room. Bernard moaned and struggled to sit up. Carol came out with a blanket in her arms.
"Bernard lay down and get some rest." commanded Scott.
The elf struggled against the command but the power of the newly formed bands forced him to lay down. Soon he found himself falling into a deep sleep.
Scott shook his head at how quickly the young elf fell asleep. He looked over at Mother Nature.
"Just what effects does those bracelets have on him."
"The two silver bracelets sapped his magic supply. The neck band affects him through his bond to you. He will be powerless to resist any commands that you or Carol give to him." The legendary figure answered him.
Mother Nature returned to the broken window and cast a fixing charm. Once she had finished the task, she turned back toward the group. "With the binding the two of you and Doctor Miller can begin your therapy sessions without anymore misuse of his frost magic. Father Time and I will begin working on Jack to prepare him for his first visit with Bernard."
Neil looked up at the figure before him. "Do you have any idea when Jack will be showing up? I would like to know what kind of time line that we are dealing with. I do have a practice outside in the real world, you know."
Mother Nature smiled at him. "I know that you have a clinic in Chicago. Father Time and I will pay you for your time and effort. Some of my son's are leprechauns. You're Uncle Ned just passed away recently and left you his place. You and Laura will find four pots of gold. Leprechaun gold brings great luck to those who posses it. Just being in the same room with some leprechaun gold can affect ones luck. Just have Laura bring one of the pots to your clinic. Your patients will receive an increase in their luck and fortune."
The doctor stood shaking his head. "Thank you Mother Nature. I wasn't really worried about the money as much as I was about my patients' well being."
Scene 2:
Bernard heard muted voices coming from the Clause's kitchen. He strained his ears to listen.
"Curtis. We need the construction elves to work adding a quest room." Carol's voice.
"Ma'am. You are going to have more guests from the outside world? Don't you think that's stretching it? Remember the secret of Santa." Curtis's voice.
"The quest room is not for any more the in laws. I still need it done." Santa's voice.
"Why aren't you asking Bernard to handle this. He is the arch elf." Curtis's voice again.
"I'm afraid that Bernard is no longer the arch elf at this time. I hope it will be only a temporary thing. " Santa's sad voice answered.
"Is it the Human Clause thing again. I didn't think it would hit again for two to three hundred years."
"I don't want to give you the details yet Curtis. Just get those elves on building the room. Bernard will staying with Mrs. Clause and myself for an indefinite time period."
'Of course. I have been relieved of duty.' Bernard moaned. He rose quietly from his place on the couch. 'Maybe if I am quick I can leave the chalet without anybody hearing me. Then perhaps I could just disappear from the pole.'
He passed the Punch and Judy stage on his right. He had just stepped outside of the when the two puppets spied him.
"Jailbreak. Sound the alarms." Yelled Punch. " Mad elf on the loose." Echoed Judy.
Bernard turned and gave the two puppets a shushing noise. He heard footsteps and knew that his escape had been thwarted.
"Bernard. Were you going somewhere?" He heard Santa's voice from behind him.
He knew that it was impossible to lie to his boss with the binding band in place. "I was thinking of leaving the pole."
"You're not going to leave the pole. Please come back into the house." Santa said trying to be gently with the elf. When Bernard didn't move away from the door however, he grew stern. "Come back into the house right now."
Bernard's body jerked as the command hit home. He turned and stalked back inside toward the living room. He paused at the puppet stage. He sent the two puppets a death glare. Punch and Judy let out a shriek and hid themselves behind the stage's curtains.
He sat on the couch and placed his head in his hands. He heard a small gasp and looked up to see Curtis staring at him.
"Santa I recognize that band. It is the crest of Princess Maripola. It is actually her crown. I've seen it in the ancient book on the Trivoly clan."
"Curtis. This is what I didn't want to talk to you about yet. But I guess I should now that it is out in the open." Santa stopped long enough to drink his cocoa. "Bernard is Maripola's lost son. He is also Jack Frost's son. His frost powers have begun to manifest themselves. The power overwhelmed him last night. Mother Nature..."
Curtis looked at Bernard again and both the black neck band and the two silver bracelets. "Mother Nature performed the ancient Trivoly binding ritual. She bound him to you. Didn't she sir?"
"Yes to me and Mrs. Claus. Curtis, I don't want the other elves to know this yet. The binding may be only temporary once Jack teaches Bernard how to control his new powers." Santa answered him.
Curtis nodded sadly. "I hope so Santa for Bernard's sake. Those bracelets also block his elf powers too. My cousin, Abby, had trouble with her powers when she was young. She kept accidently turning elves into cats. And I can tell you Sir, there is nothing worse than a hairball. I am so glad when she learned control."
Bernard snorted at this. "Yeah I remember finding hairball all over the workshop. She had been bound to her Uncle Timis. She was so glad when her uncle removed her bands. I just hope that I am as lucky."
"Don't worry Bernard. You'll learn control." Said Curtis patting his shoulder. "You have both Santa and Mrs. Clause to help you. Also you have me."
"Thanks Curtis."