The Stubbornness of Elves
Jack anxiously flew down the hall, opening every door, checking every room on the main path. He kept calling out Sandy's name but there was no answer. He was almost all the way back to the sleigh when he happened to see a couple of elves scurrying down a separate, almost invisible hallway. He thought it funny they were carrying a washcloth. So he dropped down to investigate. Perhaps one of the elves is planning on taking a bath. It's about the right size for a towel for them. He thought shaking his head with a smile. With a mischievous smirk, he reached out and tapped it with his staff, freezing the cloth solid and making the little fellows yelp in surprise and spin around to stare up at the towering Guardian. Jack ignored them and looked again at the hidden passage before deciding Sandy couldn't have gone down that way. Just as he lifted a foot to continue his search, an elf suddenly latched onto his leg and pulled at him.
"No, I don't need a shower." He said with a laugh. "The ice will melt soon enough and I've got to find Sandy." The little elf frowned and began pulling him down the hall. "Hey cut it out!" But the little fellow was adamant and would not be dislodged. "Okay, okay. If I come with you, will you help me find Sandy?"
The little elf cocked its head in bewilderment before rolling its eyes and tugged on him again. "Look I don't have time for this! Sandy may be in trouble!" Jack tried to break free of the elf's grip and fly off, but the elf somehow managed to anchor him to the ground. Stunned, Jack stared at it. "You're...you're unusually strong for an elf aren't you?" The elf finally let go and began impatiently, tapping its foot. It crossed its arms and pointed emphatically down the hall. "You're really not going to let me go are you?" The elf shook its head. "You know, I could just freeze you solid right where you stand and then be on my way." The elf's eyes widened for a moment in freight. But just as quickly, it shook it off, grabbed Jack's pant leg and began dragging him down the hall behind it. "You are being a serious nuisance!" Jack cried bouncing along on one leg. After a moment, he managed to gain enough balance that he pointed his staff at the elf and shot a stream of ice towards it. The little creature seemed to sense it and surprisingly, rolled out of the way. Jack stared at it stunned. "You're the first one to actually dodge that!" The elf crossed its arms and started impatiently tapping its foot again. "Stubborn too." Jack muttered shaking his head. "I guess you must have an emergency on your hands too?"
The little elf sighed before holding up two fingers and crossing them. It repeated the gesture but Jack just looked at it in confusion as several other elves hurried past, carrying chalices of water and other odds and ends. "So... you can cross your fingers. I can too." Jack lifted his hand and demonstrated. "It's really not hard." Aggravated the elf slapped an open hand to its forehead and dragged it down its face. Taking a deep breath the elf stepped forward and again grabbed a hold of Jack's pant leg. "Would you cut it out!? Look, if I come with you and look into whatever your emergency is, will you let me be on my way?"
The elf nodded eagerly and pointed down the hall.
Jack took a deep breath. "Bunny's probably already made it back to the sleigh by now, and if he hasn't found Sandy, then what's the harm in looking into your emergency and then exploring this corridor? After all, North did mention a short cut." Again, the Elf nodded before dashing down the corridor as fast as its little legs could carry it. Jack started laughing as he ran to catch up. It wasn't long before the strange little fellow stopped and motioned towards an open door. Jack Peered in and found a comfortable looking lounge area. I bet North uses this after he delivers presents to all the good boys and girls. He thought with a smile before calling out Sandy's name. Just as before, there was no response. Jack twirled his staff and shrugged his shoulders as he looked down at the elf who was lightly tugging at his leg again and pointing to a chair swiveled to face the fire place. Jack rolled his eyes. "Yeah I see the chair. Let me guess, your emergency is the chair? What, does it squeak obnoxiously loud when you sit down?" Jack asked with a mischievous smirk.
The elf glowered and shook its head emphatically before pointing once more at the chair. Honestly, for being a guardian, he sure can't take anything seriously. The elf thought to himself. Especially me in this condition. If only North hadn't invited Dingle and his gang of natural born elves here several years ago, I wouldn't now be stuck wearing a yeti's hat and pretending I don't have a voice just to avoid an all-out war with Dingle and his immense family! I was one of North's original men for heaven's sake! I was known as Sergei the terrible. He shivered at the recollection of his old life. Yeah, I definitely prefer Sergei the Giggler.
"Look, I don't have time for this!" Jack said swinging his staff at the elf, who nimbly dodged out of the way a second time. "You're, still unexpectedly swift on your feet. Why aren't any of your brothers as quick? It doesn't matter, I've got to find Sandy!" He turned to leave.
Heaven help me, I'm going to have to go completely native on this kid just to get him to take me seriously! Sergei thought before leaping at Jack to bite him on the ankle.
"Owe! Okay that does it, I've been patient till now, but this is the last straw!" With that Jack made a lunge for Sergei, his ice flaring out to freeze him, but Sergei easily pirouetted out of the way of his simple attack.
Heh, kid's got power, some skill, but he's still got a lot to learn. Smirking he raised his hand to teasingly tsk him. Irritated Jack made another lunge for him. This time, Sergei leapt up and landed smoothly on Jack's head and began chuckling. I haven't had this much fun in years! I've gotten so out of shape and practice it's a wonder I'm still able to keep up with this kid.
Just as Jack raised a hand to swat at the irritating elf, he saw something move. Puzzled he turned to look back towards the chair, but all was still, save for a single pillow resting there on the floor. He looked up at Sergei, who in turn, looked down at Jack with wide, pleading eyes. "Was that pillow there before or not?" He asked.
Sergei shook his head and pointed once more to the chair. But Jack's gaze had already moved from him to stare at the stuffed piece of cloth. Sergei heaved a heavy sigh, leapt off Jack's head and run over to stand on the pillow. He clasped his hands before him, begging Jack to come and look.
Cocking an eyebrow at Sergei, Jack turned to look at the chair. This time he saw other elves peeking over the arm to watch. Jack rolled his eyes and shook his head. "All of you are here? It must be something big."
Anxiously they all nodded their heads, and pointed down into the belly of the chair. It was then that Jack finally flew over to investigate. "Sandy..." He gasped, watching as a couple of elves worked to maneuver the damp washcloth across the golden man's tortured brow. Jack turned to look down at his guide. "You...you were trying to lead me to him this whole time!?"
Sergei smiled in relief and nodded his head, urging Jack to hurry.
"I...I need to let the others know where he is!" Just as Jack leapt into the air, to rush off and find help, Sergei grabbed a hold of him again.
"Hey! Get off! I've got to get help!"
But Sergei yanked even more fiercely at him, fighting to draw his attention back to Sandy. "Yes, I can see he's not well. But …?" He trailed off when he saw Sandy jerking fiercely in the arms of the chair. His golden eyes were scrunched tight in torment and his breaths came in quick, shallow gasps. Stunned, Jack hovered above them watching as the smaller guardian's movements became even more violent. Sandy began unconsciously tossing pillows about the room as he fought and struggled against an unseen foe. The elves scrambled over each other trying to escape the path of the air born projectiles and his flailing arms. Many of them dove beneath the chair to escape. Jack instinctively made a grab for Sandy before yanking his hands back with a yelp. The little man was literally burning up! Jack quickly blew on his hands to cool the burns as tears of pain drifted down his cheeks. Through the freezing liquid, he saw several brave elves leap up to try and stop Sandy's thrashing only to receive burns themselves.
Sergei looked mournfully up at Jack. Oh, if only I were still human, I could be of much greater help right now! He thought before taking a deep breath and pulling on Jack's sleeve. The moment Jack turned his attention back to Sergei, he pointed to the forgotten washcloth.
Jack quickly grabbed it up and dipped it into the cup of water before freezing it. Gently, he dabbed it across Sandy's tortured brow. A deep shudder ran through Sandy's limbs before he unexpectedly calmed under the soothingly frigid compress. "Huh, I'm kind of surprised that worked. I'm sorry for...you know, not listening to you earlier."
Sergei just shrugged and climbed up onto Jack's shoulder to pat his ear in forgiveness. It would be better if he could use his voice and tell Jack straight out, but with the natural born elves so close, it would not bode well for him or the rest of North's original gang.
"Do you think he's going to be okay?" Again, Sergei shrugged before pointing down at the little band of brave elves, who sat huddled on the end table, cradling their own blistered hands. "I suppose this is going to be a long night for all of us." Jack said dipping his free hand into the goblet and forming a small snowball and offering it to them. They looked up at him in awe and gratefully plunging their hands and faces into the cool dampness. "Do you have an idea on how to alert the others as to our location since you won't let me go and find them?"
Sergei chewed on his lip in thought, before turning to the cowering elves still hiding under the chair. He raised his hands and with extraordinary fluidity, started issuing orders. They immediately snapped to attention, gave a smart salute and charged off to obey. No sooner had they left to find help than Sandy drew a deep, heaving breath and jerked completely away from the young master of winter. Jack frowned but stubbornly persisted in dabbing the cold cloth across Sandy's brow and down his neck. Without warning, black and gold sand exploded above him. The grains circled about, lunging and dodging like two male lions, fighting over a pride. The black sand drew first blood and wherever it hit, the gold turned dark. Sandy's long, golden brows pinched tighter in stress as he lay there, fighting against the growing nightmare.
"Sandy? Sandy, can you hear me? Come on buddy, wake up." But Sandy didn't wake and as before, he began to gasp and pant. His short, strained breaths whistled like a dying bird. The sands of his robe began to loosen and slide off him in small, slick rivers of molten gold.
Not knowing what else to do, Jack earnestly began looking around; searching for anything he could use to help keep Sandy together. But all he could find were pillows strewn across the room and a rug too large to be of any use. "I guess they must have taken all the blankets to wash." Jack mumbled despairingly. "They couldn't have chosen a worse time. Come on Sandy, it's just a bad dream. WAKE UP!" Taking the cloth, he shook Sandy's shoulder, causing the small man to subconsciously jerk up. The motion sent a cascade of sand sailing across the room. Despite the abrupt movement, Sandy was still caught in the growing nightmare and abruptly fell back into the chair, his sand falling off him in torrential waves to cover the floor and chair.
"He's…he's falling apart! I need something to wrap him in!" Jack cried desperately looking around the room again.
Sergei chewed on his lip thoughtfully before an idea hit him. Eagerly, he stepped forward and pulled on Jack's sweater, pushing it up towards the ailing guardian in the chair. Jack's eyes widened in sudden understanding and he immediately took it off. It was not an easy task putting it on the scalding little man. To make matters worse, the molten grains stuck viciously to Jack's fingers, worsening the burns he already had. Jack bit furiously at his lips to keep himself from crying out as frozen tears of pain trailed down his face. He didn't know why, but he had the strangest feeling that verbalizing his pain would only worsen Sandy's already tenuous condition.
Once Sandy was donned in the sweater, Jack took a moment to tend to his own wounds and blew on his blistering hands till the molten gold finally solidified and fell off, taking dead skin cells with them. Bereft of the old skin, his hands were as blue as thin ice stretched over the ocean at dusk. He could barely move his fingers from the pain. Breathing deeply, he urged his ice to form gloves over his severely damaged hands before taking up the washcloth again. When he looked down at Sandy, he saw an image of Pitch form in the blackened grains. Sandy instantly began tossing and turning again as the villain pointed his grisly arrow at Sandy's dwindling, golden cloud. If this was anything to go by, it looked like Sandy was fighting a losing battle. "Hey! Are you guys out there!" Jack cried; his voice just shy of a screech. "Sandy Needs help! NOW!"
There was no answer. He felt certain the elves were doing their best to garner the other's attention, but they were just elves and it was doubtful the others would even listen. He was sorely tempted to leave and seek them out, but he couldn't just leave Sandy like this.
Sergei the Giggler worked his way up to stand on the chair beside Jack as the master of winter gripped and shook Sandy once more. "Come on Sandy! Come on Buddy. WAKE UP!" He cried, tears leaving frozen tracks down his cheeks. It was all to no avail as the dark grains continued to overtake the golden light. When the dream particles were nearly gone, consumed by the nightmare, Sandy's delirious thrashing rose to blistering new heights. "Sandy! Please! Wake UP! I wish you would WAKE UP!"
The utterance of the wish stopped Sandy's thrashing dead in its tracks. The little man gasped and shook. For a moment his small hands pushed at the entrapping hoodie, searching for the one who had made the wish. His head rolled unsteadily back and forth before his eyes flew open to stare unseeingly up at Jack.
"Sandy, are...are you awake?" He asked but the nightmarish dream continued to storm above him. In another moment Sandy's eyes fell shut and his intense struggles resumed, fiercer than ever before. Jack thanked the stars in the sky he hadn't dared free Sandy's hands from the folds of the hoodie as they struck out at the fabric that held him. Even so, the sickly guardian was fighting so fiercely, he was unknowingly, kicking Jack in the chest, leaving burn marks wherever his feet landed. Jack clenched his teeth in pain and determination. "I failed you once. I'm not going to fail you again!"
Unfortunately, the nightmare was relentless as it quickly finished off the golden grains and completely over ran Sandy's dream. The blackened sand formed a cloud similar to Sandy's nightly ride and began raining black particles down on the Dreamweaver. The darkened grains lashed out at any still exposed skin. Sandy's mouth gaped open in silent screams of torment as tears of graying sand leaked from beneath his tightly lidded eyes. With the intensity and cruelty of the vicious nightmare, anyone else would have woken from it. But whatever this was, it held the little man prisoner in his own mind.
A particularly powerful kick sent Jack flying across the room, knocking the wind clean out of him. He managed quick, shallow breaths as frozen tears streamed from his eyes. A couple of elves rushed to Jack's side, in a vain attempt to provide aid but he ignored them and struggled back to his knees, clutching fiercely at his burned and bruised abdomen.
He looked up in time to see Sandy fall from the chair and land with a hard thud on the cold stone floor. The Dreamweaver's intense struggles stopped like a hiccup and the darkness faded for just an instant before it exploded outward and Sandy began lashing out like a feral animal. A loathsome Nightmare, darker even than the sandy creations of the nightmare king, burst forth from the cloud. Its eyes were shot red with human blood. Whatever this thing was, it lacked the pure soul of the nightmares formed from Sandy's stolen dreams. The thing snorted and gazed down hungrily at the suffering guardian beneath it. With vengeful malice, it began raining rotten dreams down over him.
Jack gasped and rushed back to Sandy's side, fervently wishing he knew of a way to stop the cruelty raining down on him, or in the very least, a way to ease the small man's torment. He reached out and grasped the thrashing guardian only to be bitten for his efforts and thrust back. The elves that dared approach him were also sent tumbling also, burned and battered. Some were struck so hard; they hit the walls and slid down to the floor unconscious.
Jack rose and attempted it a third time only to be thrown back yet again. Agony was a fire in his chest, but Jack forced himself to rise. Leaning heavily on his staff, he turned to look despairingly towards the door. What is taking them so long? Surely this room isn't that secluded from the rest of the workshop! Jack really wanted to leave. Staying here in this room, he felt worse than useless, but Sandy needed him! Jack swallowed in sorrow as he saw golden blood pooling up on the little man's forehead and cheeks from where he scraped and bashed himself against the stone floor. "There must be something I can do!" Jack cried moving to kneel just a few feet from the downed guardian. Frozen tears flooded down his face as he clutched and pulled at his hair. In an attempt to calm and clear his racing thoughts, he closed his eyes and tapped his staff against his forehead. He drew a couple of deep, slow breaths and absentmindedly twirled a hand through the air, creating one of his special snowflakes. He didn't even realize he'd summoned it until he opened his eyes and saw it swirling and dancing in front of him
Hope bloomed in Jack's chest and he smiled at the snow flake of fun. After all, it was his element that had freed his sister and Jamie from their immobilizing fear. Perhaps…perhaps it can do the same for Sandy! Even though he is unconscious! Without another thought, Jack looked back at Sandy.
Somehow, the little man had managed to flip himself onto his back. His small elbows were shakily braced against the floor and his back and neck arched painfully upward. It almost looked like he was struggling to escape something that was impaling him. Sweat and gray tears trailed down Sandy's tortured face as he struggled for breath. Jack swallowed hard when he saw dark images of North, Tooth and Bunny begin striking at Sandy's face, cheeks and neck. Black spidery webs of poison spread out from where their dark weapons struck him.
"You...you were trapped in those nightmare grains on Easter. Weren't you?" Jack gasped in shock.
Sandy lost what subconscious strength he had left, and fell back to the stone, his arms trapped beneath him. His feverish struggles faded to become little more than light twitches as his head continued to lash back and forth. The elves peeked out of their hiding places before daring to draw closer. The heat was so intense they couldn't come within a foot of him. The red eyed nightmare snorted in delight and began crushing black Easter eggs beneath its hooves, spilling their dark yolks into Sandy's gaping, gasping mouth. The thing whinnied in ecstasy as Sandy began to choke and cough in his tortured sleep. Dark drool began dribbling from the corners of his golden lips as he struggled for breath.
Panicked, Jack forgot about the intense heat and flung himself down beside his friend and started swatting at the twisted, mini versions of the guardians as his snowflake flitted into action. The little piece of delicate ice worked to follow Sandy's weak movements drawing steadily closer to its landing pad. But the nightmare saw it coming and started flinging black eggs at it, trying to obliterate it. But Jack's snowflake would not be deterred as it bobbed and weaved, easily evading the dark barrage. In mere moments Jack saw it land. He held his breath, hoping against all odds, that it would help as the blue light of fun pulsated across Sandy's stricken face. The black spidery veins that had formed on Sandy's face and neck slowly faded back to gold as the dark, illusionary forms of the guardians curled in on themselves to burst apart in mini fireworks of gold. The blood-eyed nightmare gave a final whinny of distress and vanished too.
The elves gave a silent cheer and patted Jack on the knee in celebration before they turned their attention back to the quieted guardian. The heat Sandy was producing slowly began to drop as he started hacking up the dark, poisoned grains that had been poured down his throat. Jack took a deep, fortifying breath before bravely reaching over to roll him on to his side all while supporting his head and shoulders. Jack sat stoically, supporting him as Sandy struggled to clear his lungs and draw deep breaths of air. When at last, Sandy's intense coughing fits subsided, Jack tenderly lifted him up and laid him back down in the arms of the chair and placed a pillow under his bloodied cheek. He took up the washcloth again and gently began to wash Sandy's injuries. As much out of curiosity as instinct, Jack summoned another snowflake to "nip" at Sandy's nose.
It landed with a soft sigh and Sandy's eyes slowly blinked open to stare blearily at the burn covered, white chest in front of him. His heavy lids slid closed again to relish the strange, but comfortingly cold cloth that moved across his achy brow. Hazily, he wondered where they were and what happened before his mind latched on to the marks on Jack's chest and abdomen. His eyes flew open in panic and he instantly sat up only to have pain race down his spine and drop him back down into the cushions.
"Easy. Easy, it's going to be alright." Jack whispered soothingly.
Blearily, Sandy stared up at Jack in confusion; his eyes trailing over Jack's blistering burns. How? When? What...What happened? Where...Where are we? And where are the others? Closing his eyes Sandy took several deep breaths and tried to summon his sands to ask before he was gripped by a fierce spasm of pain. His grayed sand spurted out of the edges of the hoodie and drifted shapelessly down about his agonized face as he struggled to breathe through the pain.
"Hey! Hey, hey, hey!" Jack cried grabbing a hold to lift and support him. In the midst of his suffering Sandy heard a strange cracking sound. He managed to open his eyes, but what he saw caused the little air he was able to draw in, to catch in his throat. The ice encasing Jack's hands was turning straight into steam. With anxiety's knife pressed to his heart, Sandy glanced up at Jack's face and saw the winter teen trying to hide a grimace of pain. Complete understanding dawned and he weakly tried to pull away, only to find Jack's grip tighten on him, refusing to let go. "Sandy! Sandy Breathe! Just...just breathe and try to relax. The others will be here soon."
Sandy did his best to obey, but his gaze never left the marks on Jack's form as dusty, gray tears formed at the corners of his eyes. Never before had his touch harmed another being. Even when he fought against Pitch, he had always reigned in his strength, unwilling to ever truly cause him harm. Leave him a good many bruises as a reminder to behave and stop bullying the kids was one thing. To actually leave scars and burns like these, on Jack of all people, was like a hot knife to his heart. It hurt worse than Pitch's infernal arrow. His breaths became more labored as grains of darkened sand trailed down his stricken face. With a silent sob he curled into the fetal position.
"Hey! It's alright, everything will be alright." Jack said blowing on his hands to restore his gloves. Despite Jack's comforting words, the darkness was surging forth again, sinking its teeth even deeper into Sandy's soul and mind.
The insistent sound of bells broke the silence, pleading for Sandy's attention. But Sandy ignored them as the poisoned sleep began to drag him under once more. "Please Sandy, stay with me. Stay awake!" Jack cried as he gripped Sandy's face willing him to look him in the eye.
Sandy scrunched his eyes tight before managing to open them again. And when he did, he found himself gazing into the brilliant blue of Jack's eyes; eyes that were filled with concern and a deep caring for him. In those brilliant orbs of winter fun, Sandy saw a true, gentle love that was freely given to all who dared enter within its influence. Warmth suffused his tormented soul, driving back the vile shadow. For a moment, Sandy managed a relieved smile. The darkness hissed angrily and surged forth again, striking at every nerve in the Dreamweaver's body. Sandy stiffened, his back arched, and his eyes stared open at nothing as the intense pain raged through him. He gasped in anguish, struggling to breathe past the vicious fires tearing him apart from the inside. The sudden attack lasted only seconds, but it felt like an eternity. When it finally faded, Sandy closed his eyes and collapsed, shaking and gasping, back into the chair. Why? He wondered blearily. Why do I have to stay awake when surely sleep would release me from this and aid me in healing? Why do I feel so weak and cold when my touch is burning? And by the stars! Why is everything tilting and spinning worse than before?
Shaking and panting, he slowly tilted his head to look at Jack with pleading, questioning eyes. Without his visual voice, he couldn't even try to ask the troubling questions plaguing his mind. It didn't help that Jack had suddenly been joined by a dozen identical siblings. Some appeared gentle and kind, others looked like they may be on the war path. Seeing all of them, made the world spin faster. I wish Jack and his twins would sit still! My head hurts and their antics aren't helping! Wearily, he closed his eyes against the dizzying array of images as he weakly rubbed his stinging cheek against the pillow.
The elves jingled their bells again, pointing to the chalice of water. Jack took a deep breath and reached for it. "Come on Sandy, stay awake, stay with me just a little longer. I'm sure you're thirsty, right?" Sandy's eyes opened briefly but despite Jack's pleading and the promise of water, he just didn't have the strength to fight against the long arms of sleep. He'd given his all at Jack's request, but now, he was completely zapped. The only way for him to drink the water, would be with Jack's help, and hadn't their newest brother suffered enough? Jack's angry twins crossed their arms and glowered threateningly at him. Sandy trembled in fear as he looked back up at Jack and slowly shook his head. Despite the elves and Jack's protests, he drew his small feet up, into the warm, comforting confines of the strange blanket and tugged it tighter about himself. A cold shiver of fear ran down his spine as he closed his eyes.
Author's Notes:
As many of you have probably already guessed, yes Sergei is cannon; straight from the 1st and 3rd book. Yes he was one of North's bandit men and was indeed... eventually... turned into an elf I'll let you read the books to get the full scoop of that story. In addition to Sergei, there were two other men/elves whom William Joyce gave names. Gregor, once of the Mighty Stink, now of the Mighty Smile and Putin the Creepy whose name change was left unwritten. There are implications that there were many more men in North's original band, but they were left unnamed and unknown.
At this time, I'd like to take a moment and thank Demi Clayton for her wonderful reviews. I'm sorry this chapter did not go as you had hoped but it had already been written. In truth, each chapter has been written save for the last two which are mostly written. I'm currently trying to post a chapter a day after I've read and edited each one a final time. I'm hoping that by the time I get to the final two, they'll be mostly ready. With things still shut down here in the states, I'll have plenty of time to keep writing. Thanks again to all of you who have decided to take the time to read this little story. :D