A/N: Wow... I am now REALLY REALLY REALLY excited!!! PEOPLE REVIEWED *gets really really really excited* Okay, sry for the sorta cliffhanger of the previous chap... you didn't really think I'd kill off Bernard... did you?? *grins evily* BUT YOU MUST REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Revelation and Realization
chapter 4

Good... god... Bernard muttered in his sleep, though his voice was rich with fear. Then, suddenly, his eyes shot wide open and he clasped his hands to his throat.

A bit stunned to find himself in his dark room with no killer on top of his chest, Bernard heaved a rather heavy sigh. He sank back into his pillow, lowing his hands from is neck with a slight chuckle.

Just a dream... he told himself, breathing in deeply and closing his eyes in relief.

Was it really? a voice asked, making him open his eyes again. That voice... it was the same one as the girl who had threatened to kill him. He pictured those glaring eyes, looking almost joyous to have him under a blade. Once again, fear took hold of him, and he slowly turned his neck to meet that of the speaker.

And he met those same green eyes.

With a yelp of fear, Bernard leapt a clear three feet in the air. Unfortunately, in this movement, he launched himself off the back of the bed and landed with a dull thud on the floor.

Graceful, aren't we? the girl asked, leaning over his bed to raise on eyebrow at the raven-haired boy on the floor.

Who are you? Bernard asked, half to change the subjec, half out of curiousity. The girl laughed lightly.

I'm rather surprised you don't recognize me, she admitted.

Do I... know you? Bernard asked, eying her strangely. Now that he thought about it, she seemd oddly familiar... like something out of his past. He contemplated digging into his memory to find her, but he knew the other memories it would bring, so he left it alone.

In a way, she told him, smiling mischeviously. She reached down a pale hand to his. Need a hand?

Bernard told her, getting to his feet and imediately finding that they were no longer beneath him. With a cry, he grabbed the bed to steady himself as his knees knocked together.

her voice echoed with heavy sarcasm. Bernard laughed nervously and heaved himself back up onto the bed. He then noticed with a strange realization that, though she wore velvet clothes similar to his (clearly having been forced to change her clothes by some of the elves), she wore all red. Bernard, suddenly realized he was staring, shook his head and decided to ask something he'd been wondering for awhile.

What are you doing in my room anyway?

I've been in here a couple hours, she told him. Bernard's jaw dropped.

You-You've been watching me sleep...? he asked, to which she nodded with a smile.

Yup... wanted to see your face again, she replied.

he asked, smiling like a little child who's mother had just accidently let slip what his christmas present was. So you have met me before.

No shit, sherlock, she replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, making Bernard roll his eyes in an annoyed fashion. Anyway, I'm Alenya, she smiled at him.

she cut Bernard off, much to his annoyment.

I know, I know, Bernard, she replied. Then, meeting his eyes with her own, she smiled in a way Bernard didn't particularily like. Yet at the same time, I wonder if Bernard is truly who you are.

W-why do you s-say that? he stuttered, finding that his tongue had suddenly floated away.

It's you name, she replied, then grinned at him as if she knew something he didn't. It didn't touch her eyes, though, for they darkened dangerously. Could you have forgotten?

I-I don't know w-what you're talking about... my name's Bernard... he swallowed hard.

Really? Is it really? she replied, her eyes suddenly becoming cold as she narrowed them. I want you to keep in mind, Bernard, he didn't like the way Alenya said his name, that no matter what you do, the past won't change. I hold the key... should we see what it truly unlocks? She swished her hand and then held her palm upwards and open, and a small, transparent, gold key began floating a few centimenters above it. As Bernard stared at it, he had to bite his lip to keep from gasping in pain. In the order that they were delt, old wounds began to burn like fire again, starting with his wrist when he had first been caught. In no time, he felt himself begin shaking violently. He clenched his teeth and raised angry eyes to Alenya.

Bernard seethed. Then, as if realizing himself, he shook his head and then glared at her. The key dissapeared and she lowered her hand. The pain, however, remained. Listen to me... I don't know what you're talking about!

But you do, she blinked, and suddenly, tears had formed in the corners of her eyes. I'm sorry, but we both do. I'm sorry for the pain you felt... I'll do all I can to ease the pain for you, but eventually, you will have to remember. Then, as if supported by some magic, she floated forward and kissed him lightly on his cheek. Bernard gasped aloud as a familiar, warm sensation floated through him.

Alenya leaned back and smiled at him. Then, rather suddenly, she quavered, closed her eyes and slumped off the chair in a dead faint.

Bernard leaned over the bed with surprising, new strength. He stared at the girl on the floor, and fore a mere moment, he saw The Red Angel lying there.

Stepping onto the floor, he scooped the girl up in his arms, laid her down in his bed and covered her up before leaving the room. He didn't hear her faint murmur.

I'm... sorry...

~*~

So, what would you like? Judy asked as Bernard seated himself in a high, bar stool. She'd been doing her every-other-month, all-night clean, so the cafe was still open. She was surprised to see that despite the very early hour of the morning, Bernard had made himself look very much like he normally did (that is, if you didn't count his unmatching clothes and the fact that his beret was pulled all the way down over both ears, a look he only wore every once-in-awhile).

I'll take some Hot Chocolate, thanks, Bernard told her with a yawn. Judy imediately scuttled off. It pleased her to see that Bernard was returning to normal, but she still brewed this cup of liquid chocolate with just a little more care than usual.

However, when she walked back into the room, a small smile crept across her face. Bernard was sprawled out over three bar stools, dead asleep. Giggling quietly to herself, Judy set the cup down next to him, scurried off and soon returned with a blanket. Covering the Head Elf, a sudden thought struck her.

He looks like such a child... like an innocent, human child, she imediately wondered where that had come from. As she peered closer, she did indeed notice that he had something of a different aura about him than an elf normally had. She glanced up to his ears, but they were covered under many raven locks and his beret. However, curiosity had filled the young she-elf with a new sense of courage. Creeping forward as silently as possible, she gently lifted his beret with one hand and brushed away a few, black locks with the other.

No longer caring if she was quiet, Judy leapt back with an astonished gasp, her hands covering her mouth in horrid shock, eyes wide.

How could you have missed it? Why was he the only elf that ever grew up, Judy?! she scolded herself, the sudden realization making her shake violently. Then, another thought struck her. It was something the Santa at the time she first took her job had told her.

Now, you know Bernard, the Head Elf, correct? he asked.

Yes sir, Judy replied politely. He is always so kind to all of us, yet he seems to have softened much over time. But, sir, if I may ask one question...

You may ask, but I may not answer, the cheery man replied.

Well... he never really seems to smile. Every year, his smiles become a bit more true, yet it seems like he's haunted by something... Judy bit her lip to silence herself for fear that she had said to much. Santa just smiled, though.

As I've been told by the elder elves that Bernard has had a very hard past. When they found him, there wasn't an inch of him that wasn't either soaked in blood or bruised horribly, and he was more dead than alive. For awhile, he didn't speak at all and wouldn't eat, either. However, he finally opened up to the Santa of that time, and eventually opened up to everyone else, he sighed heavily. You may not realize it, but Bernard has certainly come a long way. No one truly saw him even fake a smile for several years. It is even said some of his Elven Magic had been beaten out of him. He has come a long ways on his own.

I understand, sir, Judy replied with a nod and a smile. And that day, when Bernard had walked in, she had smiled as sweetly as possible and brewed the best cup of cocoa she could for him. Ever since then, she had felt a certain affection for him... as well as a deep respect.

As Judy remembered those days, she lowered her hands from her mouth and stared at the floor. They had said some of his Elven Magic had been beaten out of him... no wonder he usually hid his ears.

He is an elf... just a broken one who has had to heal himself the best he could... on his own, she assured himself. However, no matter how many times she told herself this, she couldn't erase all the suspision that had formed towards the First-In-Command. After all, every now and then, they did see his ears, and in those times, they were pointed at the end. So why weren't they now...?

~*~

Bernard woke up early, as it was still dark outside. The whole workshop was dark save the one little shop he found himself in. With a smile, he looked down at the blanket that had been pulled over him. Gently pushing it off, he sat up and rubbed his eyes. It was a bit cold this early in the morning, as his ear was a bit numb.

His eyes widened in realization. Slowly, he lifted a hand to his ear, and in utter shock, he realized it was uncovered. As quickly as he could, he pulled a few, black locks back over it as well as his beret.

Could Judy have seen? he wondered, panic making his heart beat much faster.

Morning, Bernard, the young elf plopped down next to him, and Bernard couldn't help but smile at her. I finally finished my cleaning.

How will you manage all day without sleep? Bernard asked, trying to forget his worries. Judy just smiled.

Lots and lots of sugar in my cocoa, that made them both laugh. Then, both of them turned to stare out at the dark workshop. Judy felt the smile fade from her lips.

Should I ask him? she wondered, cursing her curiosity. She was dreading the answer... dreading the look on his face when she asked, but she had to know. And Judy silently prayed he would forgive her...

Bernard, can I ask you something? she spoke softly.

Bernard replied with a smile, and as he sensed the young elf's troubled look, he put a reassuring arm around her.

Well... it's... um... well... I... uh... each word came harder for Judy to form. And suddenly, she couldn't take it anymore.

It horrified Bernard to see that cheery little elf suddenly break down into many tears and sobs, each shudder of her little shoulders breaking his heart further.

Judy?! What's the matter?! Bernard asked, highly concerned about the young elf. He put his other arm around the front of her shoulders and pulled her close, rocking her back and forth.

Oh Bernard, I'm so sorry! she sobbed.

Shhh... It's alright... Shhh he told her soothingly. In his voice, Judy found a strange comfort, and it gave her the strength to sit up and wipe her eyes. With a sniff, she finally mustered up enough courage to tell him.

I-I saw y-your e-ears... I don't know what came over me but... you just... suddenly seemed... so different... and I-I wanted to know... and I don't know why and I'm sorry! she had spoken between sobs, but know she broke down into them again, burrying her face it Bernard's soft, velvet shirt. Bernard, haven been rather shocked by her sudden confession, let his face soften and he gently lifted her chin with one finger. Using his other hand, he wiped away the tears on her cheeks. As he smiled at her, Judy found she couldn't help but smile back.

Would you like to know the truth? he asked her. Judy, a bit frightened, nodded hesitantly. Bernard sighed heavily. You'll be the only person I've ever told, but I've kept it locked up for so long...

You can tell me, now it was Judy's turn to be reassuring. Very thankful that Bernard had taken it so well, she had become very curios again.

You see, it happened when I was ten years old. I was going to stay with my cousin for the weekend. See here, this was the present my mom gave me when she wished me good time, he pulled the beret off his head. Judy had always wondered why he had it rather than just getting a new one, and now, it all made sense. She nodded for him to go on. Well, on the way, I... I ran into two ruffians... the-they... he swallowed hard, and it seemed hard for him to continue. After a long pause, he finally continued. I was kidnapped... and you have no idea what it was like to be in their hands... oh god... Bernard slumped down a ways and rubbed his face in his hands. Judy lay a reassuring hand on his back and peered at his covered face.

I don't know how long they tortured me, Bernard finally said, pulling his hands down low enough to reveal his eyes. They were wet with tears, which he furiously tried to blink back. I remember it so clearly... the pain... but then, I was visited by what I thought was an angel. She had short red hair and this long, red skirt with a long, red shirt over it and a black ribbon around her middle. She seemed to glow in that dark room... and she gave me hope. She somehow made the pain go away, and I was relieved by her presence. I called her The Red Angel. And then, she told me something... Judy was surprised to find that Bernard had started shaking under her hand.

What did she tell you? she asked, moving her hand all the way around his shoulder.

'Don't forget who you are, Elijah, for that will truly kill you forever' was what she said, it seemed hard for Bernard to say, and after he did, he imediately closed his eyes and hung his head.

Judy asked.

Bernard nodded softly. My real name. Elijah. And I tried to forget, and I almost did kill who I used to be. I almost let them win...

Then Bernard is...

Nothing but a lie, he finished for her. Judy withdrew her hand in shock similar to what one would have shown if they had suddenly realized one of their friends had murdered someone.

How did you get here? she asked him, suddenly a bit afraid of whatever it was sitting next to her.

It happened after The Red Angel left me... my kidnappers came back. I had grown used to the torture... my screams were nothing new to either of us... but then they did something that truly did haunt me... he drew his legs up closer to his body and wrapped his arms around himself.

Torture... what else could they possibily have done?! Judy cried.

Torture... torture and rape, he replied, hanging his head further and letting the tears slide down his cheeks unnoticed.

Oh Bernard, Judy felt so much pity for him, she could barely contain herself, and resolved to throw her arms around his neck and rock them both back and forth, very much the same as he had done to her.

The last thing I remember of that place was The Red Angel holding me... and pressing something into my hand, he lifted his hand from his lap, and Judy realized he still held the green beret. An eternal memory of my old life... they were all murdered.

I can't remember how it happened... maybe it was The Red Angel, but when I woke up, I was lying unclothed in he snow. I remember crying out for her help... and then I was found by the elves, he smile faintly. Ice had frozen on the tips of my ears, and they mistaked me for an elf... eventually, I learned how to make my own, fake ears to stick on every once in awhile to try and seem like a normal elf...

I-I didn't know... Judy suddenly felt ashamed. And then, she realized why the Santa of her time long ago had said Bernard had come a long way. You're brave, you know, to start over. I don't think I would have been able to...





Thanks for listening, Judy smiled to herself.

You can always tell me anything, she smiled in the darkness. And then, together, they watched as the workshop lit up and came to life...

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A/N: No, Bernard and Judy aren't inlove... they're just friends. Haha... another non-planned thing... I was just going to end the chapter with Judy covering him up with the blanket and saying how innocent and how frail he looked... nope, Judy wanted a bigger role too. Well all my loyal reviewers, please review for the next chap!!


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