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At first, nothing seemed wrong.
There was, after all, in the back of Santa ’s mind that worry of a certain head elf working himself to death given the number of times he’d caught Bernard having not gotten enough sleep, which in turn resulted in a particular head elf being sent home to rest and while Santa decided to add an addition to Bernard’s department—although in hindsight Curtis probably only added more work.
So when he walked into the room where Bernard and Curtis drew up various design ideas—the successful ones almost always being Bernard—Santa thought it quite pleasant to see a certain head elf asleep at his drawing board, head against the table, a mug of hot cocoa nearby.
Nor did he mind finding Bernard asleep later on while Curtis, thankfully, bustled around, not complaining that the head elf wasn ’t working as well, but Santa took the time to fetch a blanket over Bernard’s shoulders.
It was the third time—
Judy came to him frantic, saying the cocoa she ’d taken Bernard remained untouched, but there was the even more concerning issue.
Bernard wouldn ’t wake up, but Judy also noted Bernard hadn’t—of all things—sleep teleported, which was a definite issue that Santa brushed off because of how few times he caught Bernard sleeping. He walked over, frowning upon seeing the same blanket, nudging his head elf.
Taking a deep breath, he pulled a mirror out.
“Santa, what is that for?:”
“It’s to check that he’s alive,” Scott said, breathing a sigh of relief to see a mist appear on the mirror when he held it in front of Bernard’s nose and mouth.
“I could have told you that,” Judy said.
“You said he wasn’t sleep-teleporting,” Scott said, looking at her.
“Yes, well,” Judy cleared her throat. “He’s under a spell.”
“Curtis!”
“What?” the elf was supposed to be Bernard’s second and thus resulted in less work for the head elf.
“What have you done?”
“Nothing,” Curtis said. And then, “He’s always so tired, so what’s wrong with seeing to it that he gets some sleep?”
“Oh, Curtis!” Judy said. “Please tell me you didn’t!”
“I don’t see…”
“Of course you wouldn’t! Bernard and I’ve lectured you about using magic before, particularly when you don’t look at what that magic does, let alone how to break it.”
“What are you talking about?” Curtis muttered, frowning, his mouth in a pout.
“Yes, Judy,” Scott said, letting out a sigh.
“You see,” Judy said, frowning. “I’m sure you’re family with fairy tales, Santa?”
“Fairy tales?” And the Scott said. “As in Sleeping Beauty?”
“Precisely.”
“But shouldn’t we also be asleep?”
“Different spells that can be used in conjunction,” Judy said. “But you should be aware from the fairy tale what’s needed to break the spell.”
“And Bernard doesn’t have a significant other?”
“No.”
“Curtis!” Scott turned to look at the younger of the two elves. “What have you done?”
“I don’t get it,” Curtis started saying. “Just brew up the counter spell!”
“Curtis,” Judy said. “This spell can’t be broken without a true love kiss.”
“True love,” Curtis said, letting out a snort. “Bernard is married to his—oh. Oh no. I am so sorry.”
“We’ll talk about it later,” Scott said, which he did, although he wasn’t sure how well the lecture sunk in, given Curtis went to calling himself number one despite Bernard still holding the position.
In the meantime, he—with the help of Judy making sure the halls were clear so as not to alarm the other elves, cleared a path so he, Mrs. Clause, and Dr. Hicmus could get Bernard back to Bernard ’s place.
And every so often, he ’d drop by to check on the elf, who thankfully didn’t need anything while under the spell.
“But still…”
…
“Do I really have to check in with Bernard?”
“Mindy. He’s your older brother.”
“He’s not returned home in forever,” Mindy said, looking herself in the mirror. “And he’s stopped returning your letters.”
“All the more reason for you to do so,” his aunt said. “He’s rather lonely up there.”
“Then he could come…”
Her aunt sighed. “Him coming here would have only made that feeling worse, dear.”
Mindy frowned. “Still…”
“Trust me. He may not have come home but always sent you those wonderful packages after Christmas.”
“I’ve got to go, or I’ll be late and miss the teli-tram to the North Pole,” Mindy said. “I bet all the others are going—“
“Let me come with,” her aunt said.
“Whatever for.”
“Because I don’t trust you to check in with your brother.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“I’m more worried your brother will try and avoid you.”
“What? I’ve not done anything wrong.”
“No, no, you haven’t,” her aunt sighed. “I think he’s just always felt he—well, the family was never pleased he was a toy maker elf, but when you voiced similar displeasure…”
“Wait? Is that when…”
“Yes, dear. That’s when he stopped coming,” her aunt said. “Foolish, I know, but he really can’t bear disappointing you.”
“Well, I won’t disappoint.”
Thus, Patty would end up being her chaperone for more than just the trip up, but her Aunt didn ’t hide the fact she wanted Patty to help her find Bernard. Patty’s younger twin sisters laughed.
“Don’t mind them,” Sam said, pushing up her glasses. And then, the group of recent academy graduates filed off the teli-tram and headed to—
Mindy ’s eyes widened upon seeing Santa there, with a tiny, slightly chubby elf standing next to him, whom she assumed was the head elf.
“Well, since everyone is here,” Santa started saying, clapping his hands together.
“Wait,” Patty said, frowning. “Where is the head elf?”
“I’m the head elf,” the one elf said.
“No. No, you’re not,” Patty said, but then Patty looked over at Mindy, the look on her face saying she thought Mindy might react negatively. She then took a deep breath. “He isn’t hiding, is he?”
“Why would Bernard…”
“Curtis,” Santa said, shaking his head, then looked at Patty. “Benny’s not here this year?”
“Benny—well, reasons,” Patty said. “Where’s Bernard Elfbright?”
Mindy felt her jaw drop, then realized—
All the other elves from her graduating year stared at her while her friend ’s jaws dropped. She stepped behind Patty, then tugged, whispering. “He’s not sent auntie letters.”
“How long?”
“A few years,” Mindy said.
“Hey. Why are all the new recruits looking at that one elf?”
“She’s an Elfbright.”
Santa—his eyes widened, then he looked at the elf beside him. “Curtis!”
“I didn’t know! I mean, I didn’t know he had a family!”
Mindy felt her heart sank.
“Well, you’re also the reason we’re currently a head elf out of action, aren’t we?” Santa said.
“One mistake!”
“The toy Santa fiasco and the Jack Frost fiasco?”
“Yes, well…”
“Where,” Patty said firmly. “Is Bernard Elfbright. It’s never been like him to neglect his duties, what with that annoying habit of…”
“Being married to his work?” Curtis said. “Thus it’s impossible…”
“Curtis,” Santa said. “I’d like you to stay here with our new recruits.” He then nodded at Patty. “If you know Bernard, then do you know where he lives?”
“Of course,” Patty said, somewhat irritated.
“I don’t.”
“Well, you can follow me and…”
“Patty, sir,” she said. “And I’m not impressed.”
“I take it you were under a previous Santa?”
“But of course.”
“Well, this way,” Santa said, shaking his head. “I really wish Curtis thought to look for family.”
“Hey! Bernard’s the last person…”
“Enough, Curtis,” Santa said. “And I do apologize, “He said to others.
And then they were—
“Hold on,” Santa said, stopping and turning to glare at the two additional elves.
“They’re Mindy’s friends and likely worried about her,” Patty said. “And if they try and go back, Cam will likely get Sam lost.”
“Alright,” Santa sighed. “Just know Bernard is a rather private person.”
And then they were off, heading to …”
Mindy frowned, entering the house.
“He’s over here,” Santa said, heading to one of the bedrooms. He opened the door and—
Bernard was asleep, looking like nothing was wrong. Mindy hurried over, nudging Bernard ’s shoulder. “Hey. Bernie. Wake up.”
“He can’t. He’s under a spell because a certain elf who’s supposed to be doing less work for me and my head elf decided Bernard needed a break—a nap, so to speak, only for Curtis—well, as you heard him declare himself head elf, you can get the jist.”
“You’re Santa!” Mindy turned to look at him. “Break the spell!”
“Mindy!” Patty said, only for her to frown, turning to Santa. “She’s right, though. It’s not a normal spell.”
“Same used on Sleeping Beauty, but of course…” Santa sighed, leaving Mindy perplexed.
“He doesn’t look like a sleeping beauty,” Cam said.
“That,” Mindy said. “What is this Sleeping Beauty?”
“It’s a human tale regarding the spell,” Patty said, sighing. She took a deep breath. “Favor?’
“And that would be?”
“Could you not tell Captain Oblivious what spell he was under?”
“What?” Santa said. “Oh. Is that the reason you left? Why not tell him directly to his face?”
“Because,” Patty said, then she sighed. “That’s fair, but this isn’t how I want him to find out.”
“Find out what?”
“Don’t worry,” Patty said. “Just, none of you tell him how the spell got broken.”
“He’s going to figure it out once he realizes how many Christmases he’s missed.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Patty said. “Just give me a bit of time.”
And then—
Mindy covered her eyes, not expecting Patty to lean down and kiss Bernard.
Then, a relatively weak voice said, “Santa?” And then, the sound of Bernard shifting into a sitting position was heard.d “Wait. Why is everyone—Mindy?”
“Patty kissed you,” Cam blurted out. “To break the spell.”
“What spell?” Bernard said in response to Cam’s slip of the tongue. And then—Mindy covered her eyes, watching her brother’s facial features turn red. “Wait. You—ah, um.” He glanced away. “I don’t—um.”
Patty let out a sigh. “Not my fault you never figured out how I felt.”
“I thought,” Bernard said, sighing and glancing away. “Why me?”
“Because you’re you, that’s why.”
“And that’s precisely why you shouldn’t!”
Mindy frowned. “I don’t—what’s going on.”
Santa sighed. “Ah, well—true loves kiss?”
“What?” Mindy said, groaning as she covered her eyes. “My brother and Patty?”
Sam said. “Well, you didn’t tell us your brother…”
“I didn’t know he was head elf!” Mindy said, frustrated.”