Santa went back into the cafeteria to see Micky, Mike and Peter. They were no long at the table they were sitting at, or in the cafeteria at all. Santa noticed the empty cocoa cups and the full cup sitting at the table. It seems the boys left in a hurry. He asked the nearby elves, and they told him the three Monkees had quickly run out the door after two women in elf costumes. Fearing the worst, Santa hurried back downstairs to his secret tech-lab and tried to find the men. In a few seconds, he had his answer: All four of them were underground in the troll mines. It was seldom that Santa got angry, but he felt his face grow red thinking about the trolls, or rather this Wizard Glick person who was controlling them. It was time to take serious action.
"TIC, TOC!" Santa yelled. They came running.
"Yes Santa?" They asked.
"The trolls have the Monkees again. It's time to call out the troops. Put operation snow flake into action."
"Right away, boss!" Tic and Toc exclaimed and ran off.
Santa shut off his machines and walked out of the room. It was time to show Glick that he wasn't the only one who knew magic.
~~~~~~~~~
Lisa and Laura helped Davy into his royal black cloak. Glick had transported Davy back to Glick's chambers so he could become 'Davius' again. Davy stood stiffly at the mirror as the girls brushed the cloak with their brushes. Neither of them spoke. Davy nudged them away with his elbows.
"I hope you two are proud of yourselves." Davy said coldly. Glick had told him it was the girls who had captured his friends. He didn't want them around him.
Lisa and Laura looked at the floor and moved away. Glick, all in black, swept into the room.
"Ah, you look splendid, King Davius." Glick soothed, then to the girls, "That will be all." They left the room.
Glick reached out and touched Davy's temple with his finger.
"There. You now can remember all that happened while you were Davius." Glick said, laughing, "I'm sure you won't want to forget a single detail."
Davy shut his eyes against the memories Glick had brought back. It was worse than what the other three had let on! He had actually hit Micky, ordered him beaten, then laughed and mocked him as he froze in the dungeon! On top of that, he did nothing to stop Grizelda from brutally torturing his friends!
"I hate you Glick." Davy said in a low growl after several seconds.
"I don't care." Glick said with a shrug. "You'll need those memories to fool Grizelda anyway, who's on her way here, to welcome back her king. Ah, here she is now, and please... remember our earlier discussion about your friends."
Queen Grizelda came into the room. "Davius!" She shouted happily, "You're back!" She ran over to Davy and gave him a big hug and kiss. Davy was appalled, remembering that she had tortured his friends, but did his best to return the hug and kiss.
"Thank you so much, Great One, for bringing him back!" Grizelda exclaimed, "How did you do it?"
"I waited until Davius was out of Santa's sight and zapped him right back here!" Glick said proudly. "I hope his majesty won't go outside by himself anymore."
"Oh, I'll have guards around him all the time now!" Grizelda promised.
"Good, good." Glick beamed, "Well, If you'll excuse me, I think I'll take a nap. I'm sure you two have some catching up to do. Goodbye!" With that, Glick bowed and walked out of the room and into his bedroom.
After hearing the bedroom door close, Grizelda took Davy's hand and led him over to the couch. They sat down, Grizelda still holding Davy's hand. Davy wanted to pull his hand free, but was afraid to do anything to let on that he wasn't Davius anymore.
"I'm so glad you're back, my king, the workers were wondering where you were and the digging had slowed down."
"Is that the only reason you're glad to see me?" Davy asked coolly.
Grizelda laughed nervously. "No, No, of course not, dear, I wanted you back so we can be married." She hung her head, not knowing how to proceed. Davy noticed this, and wondered what was bothering her. Maybe he could use this against Glick.
"What's wrong my Queen?" Davy asked, trying to act kind.
Grizelda looked at the door, then moved closer to Davy. "I've been thinking a lot about the three humans who used to be your friends." She said quietly.
"What about them?" Davy asked, trying to keep his voice neutral.
"Well, it was when I had them in the torture chamber, after they had tried to kidnap you."
Davy nodded curtly, remembering how he had fought against his friends. "Go on."
"I asked them again, and again, why they did such a thing. They answered that you were their friend Davy, that Glick had put a spell on you, not Santa." Grizelda paused, "Even under the lash, the rack, and my favorite, the hot poker, they kept insisting it was the truth. They said it with such conviction that I..." Grizelda's voice dropped even lower, "I...began to believe them. Forgive me Davius. But is it true?"
In answer, Davy shot his hand up and gripped the troll queen's throat. He slowly pulled it away when he saw the sad look in Grizelda's eyes. Those eyes were eyes of regret and remorse, not anger or glee.
"Its true, isn't it?" Grizelda said. "That we've both been deceived by Glick?"
Davy starred at Grizelda for long seconds, then nodded his head. "I was put under a spell to make me think I was Davius, since I look so much like him. But the spell was broken. Now Glick has my friends tied up somewhere in the tunnels next to a digging machine. If I don't pretend I'm Davius, my friends will be killed."
Grizelda shot to her feet. "I'll have my guards put Glick in the dungeon!" She said angrily.
Davy stood up quickly as well. "No, your majesty." He said. "As much as I'd like to see Glick stretched on the rack for what he did to me and my friends, he still has my friends hostage. We have to go along with his game until we can think of something."
Just then, Davy and Grizelda heard the tapestry hanging against the wall rustle. Putting a finger to his lips, Davy tip-toed over to the tapestry and quickly pulled it back. Behind the tapestry was Lisa and Laura. They were back to wearing all-black mini-dresses, and looked ready to cry.
"Spying for Glick, right?" Davy spat.
"Yes, he told us to eavesdrop, to make sure you keep your end of the bargain." Lisa said, frightened.
"I should have you two flayed for this!" Grizelda said angrily, joining Davy.
"Please don't, Queen Grizelda," Laura begged, "We don't want to work for Glick anymore. We didn't know Davy's friends would be tortured, or that Glick would try to destroy Christmas!"
Davy thought a moment. "Would you two know where Glick keeps his magic spell book?"
The two girls nodded their heads.
"Good. Glick's asleep." Davy answered, "Get his spell book, and bring it to my chambers. Glick's gonna get a dose of his own medicine."
Lisa and Laura quickly left the room to do what Davy said.
"Can we trust them?" Grizelda asked.
"Can I trust you?" Davy answered.
The troll queen nodded her head. "I'm sorry for what I did to your friends, and I will help you get Glick out of the North Pole."
Davy took Grizelda's arm and led him back to his chambers, hoping Lisa and Laura could bring the book back to him. Christmas depended on it.