Herr Drosselmeyer had made for the children a nutcracker, of diminutive size yet astonishing beauty, with a bright red coat and little painted eyes. He was a soldier in Fritz’s eyes, to be commanded and cared for, but to Clara, he was prince, lover, and champion all in one. They admired him, and fought over him, as little siblings do. He gave them the sweetest dreams they ever had.
I know it’s not quite the Christmas season, but I’ve recently had my heart sweetly broken by Leigh Bardugo’s The Soldier Prince, and I simply had to make something. I’ve never been much of a ballet person, but The Nutcracker and Swan Lake always have special places in my heart.
Just to tack on to this (because it’s great), that graduation to compassion works both ways.
I think for whatever reason Alfred has always been very lonely and has struggled to find people who actually listen to him and value him appropriately.
I believe an equally compassionate dynamic here allows them to see each other as equals and to fall in love partially because of mutual kindness.
Penhales 