Chapter 4: Queen Camilla

Following the gingerbread soldiers, Rudolph and Hermey led into a small ice cave where a small gondola sat in a tiny river waiting for them.

Getting in, one of the gingerbread soldiers grabbed an oar and started rowing through the caverns.

The caverns themselves were mostly dark, with ice stalactites hanging from the ceiling. The boat ride was rather short as they soon came to a stop by a small ice ledge.

Departing from the boat, the gingerbread soldiers led the two friends to a small wooden door that was just barely their size. With a few light knocks, the door opened, revealing a large and well-kept hallway with a red carpet.

As they walked into the room, Rudolph and Hermey both noticed several doors that lined up the hallway. They even saw one gingerbread man, dressed as a doctor funnily enough, come out from one of the doors, run across the hall, and enter another room.

The gingerbread soldiers led both Rudolph and Hermey to the end of the hallway, where they opened another door to reveal a large throne room.

The throne at the end of the room itself looked more like a bed, surrounded by fancy curtains and decorated with fancy jewelry.

"Now, we'll leave it to Queen Camilla to decide your fate." One of the gingerbread soldiers said.

Rudolph and Hermey gulped nervously. "Fate?" They both asked, turning to each other.

All of the gingerbread soldiers then got down on one knee, kneeling. "Presenting her majesty, the glamorous and fabulous Queen Camilla!"

Rudolph and Hermey looked up, and almost believed they were hallucinating when they saw a tall anthropomorphic hippopotamus wearing a purple dress with a pink fur collar, and a golden tiara on her head, float down towards them with these itty bitty purple butterfly wings that she had on her back.

Out of all the strange things the two friends had seen, this one definitely took the cake.

"Hello, darlings." The Queen said smoothly, playing a bit with her fur collar.

Rudolph and Hermey looked to each other before both taking a small bow as a sign of respect.

"Uh… um," Hermey stammered, unable to properly speak.

"Hello, your majesty." Rudolph greeted politely.

"Enough banter!" Camilla suddenly snapped, dropping her smooth demeanor, which made Rudolph and Hermey flinch. "Why have you trespassed on Castaway Cove?" She asked in a much calmer, but still stern, tone. "Did you not read the sign outside?"

Rudolph gulped. "Well, you see, we got into this huge storm and we were shipwrecked, and-"

"Lies! Lies! Lies!" Camilla interrupted. "Just because Camilla is beautiful, doesn't mean she's one sandwich short of a picnic, darling. I know why you're here! You've obviously been sent by your boss, the Toy Taker, to steal all my fabulous toys like the other ones he's stolen all across the globe!"

"W-why would we-" Rudolph stammered, but was interrupted by the Queen.

"Silence! Before I mount you over the mantel piece." Camilla shouted. "Guards, throw them in the dungeon for the next three hundred years."

"What?!" Rudolph and Hermey both exclaimed in astonishment as the gingerbread guards began to surround them.

"Now look here, we're not here to cause harm!" Rudolph said. "Besides, he's a dentist!" He gestured to Hermey.

"And he's a beloved holiday icon!" Hermey added, gesturing to Rudolph.

But Camilla and the gingerbread soldiers did not seem to listen, or care for that matter.

"Get 'em, boys!" One of the gingerbread soldiers said, drawing his sword.

Two gingerbread soldiers leaped onto Rudolph, trying to bring him down as he bucked and kicked, trying to shake them off.

Hermey meanwhile was backed into a corner with two swords at his throat. Instinct taking over, Hermey fished into his pocket and pulled out a toothbrush, swinging it wildly at the two cookie men.

"Look out! He's got a toothbrush!" One of the soldiers said as they backed away from Hermey.

Now if these were normal circumstances, Hermey would probably have questioned why two royal guards with metal swords would be afraid of a measly toothbrush. But right now, he didn't seem to care. "And I know how to use it!" He quickly retorted.

"Let… go!" Rudolph grunted, still trying to shake the two gingerbread soldiers off of him. He then thought of an idea, lighting up his nose just bright enough to possibly blind everyone in the room and then make a run for it with Hermey.

And so Rudolph did so, lighting up his nose as bright as he could, much to the guards alarm and Camilla's surprise.

"Look! He's got a very shiny nose!" One of the soldiers yelled as all of them covered their eyes due to the brightness of it.

"Why, it's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!" Camilla exclaimed in surprise. "Oi yoi yoi yoi, how did I not realize it before?"

All of the guards then backed off as Rudolph dimmed down his nose. He then looked up to see Camilla stand up from her throne and walk over to him.

"Oh, Rudolph, darling, forgive me for that thorough misunderstanding." Camilla apologized, picking him up like he was a puppy and cuddling him. "Oh, you look more adorable in person." She then pulled him back and lightly kissed him on both of his cheeks, which made him blush madly in embarrassment.

"Once again sorry for that rough stuff, my child. We thought you were spies for that fiend, the Toy Taker." Camilla told him as she set him down.

"Us? With the Toy Taker?" Rudolph questioned. "But-"

"Shush, let's not dwell on the past, caribou." Camilla told him. "It's not attractive. Let me start over; Welcome to my fabulous castle, darlings. So you see, when toys get old or broken, and otherwise be castaways, Queen Camilla brings them to Castaway Cove for rest, relaxation, and restoration. Come along, darlings, I'll give you a five-penny tour of the place, yes?"

Rudolph and Hermey looked to each other for a moment before turning back to the queen, nodding.

"Excellent!" Camilla exclaimed, clapping her hands. "Follow me, please."

So far, the tour had been interesting.

The first room Camilla had taken them to had been a large room, which looked the inside of a barber shop as several dolls could be seen getting their hair trimmed and having eyeliner and makeup put on by gingerbread workers.

The second room they went to seemed to be a dressing room of sorts as more dolls could be seen checking out and trying on new clothes and accessories.

The third room was completely different from the first two as it appeared to be something akin to a surgery room. Inside, they could see several stuffed animals getting rips and tears sewed up while more scratched up toys got new paint, and broken toys were being given new parts.

"As you can see, everything and everyone is beautiful here." Camilla told them. "I make them beautiful. A little plastic here, a little stuffing there, some powder on the nose, a little dab of paint applied with love and car, and voila! They're fabulous!" She then sat back down on her throne, pulling out a small fan.

"Well, you run quite the fine establishment, your majesty." Hermey complimented her.

"It's as beautiful as you describe it." Rudolph added.

Camilla then sighed. "While this place is glamorous, the only problem is what to do with those toys after Camilla makes them so fabulous."

Rudolph quickly got an idea. "Maybe Santa can find new homes for them like he does now for King Moonracer." He suggested.

The Queen looked very pleased with this idea. "If you do this for me, I will do something for you. Tell me, what is your fondest desire, darlings?"

"Well, we would like some help repairing our Toothmobile so we can get back home." Hermey requested.

"Done. I'll have it done by tomorrow morning." Camilla agreed. She then turned to Rudolph. "And what about you, caribou? Surely there is something your heart greatly desires?"

Rudolph shrugged. "Well, I don't have anything in particular that I want other than to get back home and see Clarice and my family again."

"Ah, wanting to see your family and your love again, quite understandable." Camilla said. "But I have heard a few rumors that you still want a normal nose. If you want, I can give you that."

For a moment, some small part of Rudolph very deep down wanted to say yes, to not have to deal with everyone treating him differently anymore, whether he was laughed at or celebrated. After all, most of his life all he had ever wanted was to be like everyone else, to just be… normal. But then Rudolph thought back to when he met Santa after trying on his false nose, how the old Saint Nick didn't seem angry with his nose, but was instead comforting and encouraging. He then thought back to the Reindeer Games right after he ran away, how Clarice had comforted him and actually accepted him for his nose. Then finally, he thought of when he first met Hermey and Yukon, how they didn't seem to mind his nose at all. Those moments with them still warmed his heart to this day, especially with Clarice. It was partly because of her that he began to accept his nose not as a liability, but as part of who he is. Sam the Snowman had said that he had been given this nose for a reason, but for what reason he didn't know (yet it felt like he somehow did know at the same time). And in the end, he knew his mind was made up.

Besides, what if it was another foggy Christmas Eve this year?

"I appreciate the offer, but I'm still gonna have to decline." Rudolph then grinned cheekily. "But speaking of desires, Hermey here says he'd like to have a date with the Tooth Fairy."

Hermey's back shot up like a pole, his body stiff as a board as his cheeks turned red.

Camilla didn't seem too disappointed. "Suit yourself, Sugar Plum. As for the Tooth Fairy, maybe I can get her and your friend hooked up." That got a giggle out of Rudolph. "But for now, feel free to spend the night here."

The next morning when the sun had just risen over the horizon, the gingerbread men got straight to work, going outside and salvaging all they could find of the Toothmobile while fending off the qalupalik.

After several hours, the Toothmobile was finally repaired, looking good as new.

"Now, you promise to tell Santa Claus of Castaway Cove, boys?" Camilla questioned them as Rudolph and Hermey got in the Toothmobile.

"We promise." Hermey replied.

"You'll see us again on Christmas Eve." Rudolph added.

"Then I wish you a safe journey home, darlings."

With their goodbyes said, Hermey started up the Toothmobile backing out and turning the vehicle around as they sailed away from the Castaway Cove, with the next stop being Christmas Town.

Turns out, they weren't too far away from Christmas Town as they managed to make it back before noon.

As they arrived at the docks, they were greeted by Rudolph's parents, who were overjoyed to see that their son was alive.

"Oh, my darling, we were so worried you wouldn't make it back." Mrs Donner said as she and Donner lovingly nuzzled their son.

"Yeah, especially with that terrible storm last night." Donner added.

Rudolph smiled. "Well, I'm back now, that's what-"

"RUDOLPH!"

Rudolph looked up just in time to Clarice running towards him, glomping on him as she showered him with kisses.

"Oh, I'm so happy you're back! I was so worried!" Clarice cried in between kisses, half laughing and half sobbing with relief. "Don't you ever scare me like that again, Rudolph!"

Rudolph laughed as his face was now practically covered in kiss marks. "I'm glad to see you too, Clarice. It's not too late to still have our, um, 'flying lessons' right?"

Clarice giggled as she got off him. "Of course not, come on. Let's find someplace to practice."

Smiling, Rudolph ran after her as they headed for the Christmas Tree Forest.

It was good to be home.

If you're observant enough, you might notice the little hint towards my future novelization on Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July.