In Enchancia Castle, it's often been said that music makes everything better. Even if someone's not in the mood to sing, they can still listen to someone singing, and if they feel like it, they can join in too. This is the case when James is sick and he can't be with Amber. But at least he has some people with him, and they know what helps him feel better. Thanks to Sofia2017 planning for helping with the story. Gordon Lightfoot's music is not mine.

King Roland and Queen Melinda were with two-year-old James in the nursery. He was suffering from the flu, and it was making him miserable. Roland and Melinda would take turns carrying him around the room or rocking him to try and help him go back to sleep, but nothing was working.

"Amber?" James asked, looking around and not seeing his sister. "Want Amber! Where Amber?"

"We know you want to be with Amber, sweetheart, but she's in a different room until you're feeling better," Melinda explained. "It's going to be all right," she added as he started whimpering. "You'll get to be with Amber again in a few days, but for now, you need to get some rest."

As he reached out to stroke James' hair, Roland said, "Melinda, I don't see the harm of Amber seeing James from the doorway. He misses her, and all he wants is another friendly face."

"You're right, and I suppose it couldn't hurt," Melinda said at last, "They'll have to stay apart, but they can still wave to each other and talk to each other from the doorway.

"We should let Amber get some sleep anyway; it is rather late," Roland agreed. "We can let them see each other in the morning."

"Amber now!" James pouted.

"We know, but you need to rest," Melinda said as she sat down with him in a rocking chair. "It's going to be all right, James. Amber will visit you when you wake up."

"And you've got your friend Prince Blizzard with you to keep you company until then," Roland agreed. He picked up the plush white tiger and held him to his ear. "What's that, Prince Blizzard?" He nodded and said, "You're absolutely right. We should let James rest now."

Melinda smiled as she watched Roland 'talk' with Prince Blizzard, and she smiled as even James giggled softly. She kissed him and said, "Roland, I know what can get James to sleep."

Roland smiled. Ever since Amber and James were a year old, they had discovered that the twins, especially James, responded very well to music. They would sing the children to sleep, and after their first birthday, James would try to sing with them, but so far, he had only managed either an 'aaaahh' or their favorite, 'la-la-la'. "You're absolutely right," he agreed as he gave James Prince Blizzard. "James responds very well to music, and he loves anything we sing to him."

"He's even started singing with us too," Melinda smiled.

"Yes, but this time, he should rest his voice," Roland agreed. He smiled and gave James a little hug. "Don't worry, James, you'll be singing your 'la-la-la' song with Prince Blizzard again before you know it."

James smiled. "Prince Bliz-zard likes la-la-la song!"

Roland gently mussed James' hair. "He certainly does, but this time Mommy and I are going to sing to you. You and Prince Blizzard get to lie back and rest."

"Mommy sing? Daddy sing?" James asked.

"Of course we'll sing," Melinda smiled. "And I've got a wonderful song in mind."

James smiled and leaned back in her arms as Roland got the tape out. "La-la-la..."

Melinda kissed his forehead. "Tomorrow you can sing with us, if you feel like it. But for now, just get some rest."

She found a song and started rocking James as she sang softly, Pussywillows, cat-tails, soft winds and roses
Rainbows in the woodland, water to my knees
Shivering, quivering, the warm breath of spring
Pussywillows, cat-tails, soft winds and roses

As Melinda sang, she noticed James' eyes were already closing. Normally when she sang to him and Amber at night, he'd fall asleep toward the end. But she knew that he had a good reason for nodding off early in the song.

When he heard the song begin, Roland smiled. He remembered Grand Mum and even Tilly singing this to him when he was a child and when he had a nightmare.

He joined in, Catbirds and cornfields, daydreams together
Riding on the roadside the dust gets in your eyes
Reveling, disheveling, the summer nights can bring
Pussywillows, cat-tails, soft winds and roses

"That's right, Roland," Melinda smiled, "And James, here's another lesson for you about music: if you know the song and you like it, you don't have to ask permission to join in the song, just start singing with the person who's doing it!"

"La-la-la," James murmured.

"That's right, but let's let you rest first," Roland smirked. "You can sing with us when you're feeling better."

"You're right, Roland," Melinda smiled. "James can sing with us when he feels better, but he can still listen to us now."

She continued the song, Slanted rays and colored days, stark blue horizons
Naked limbs and wheat bins, hazy afternoons
Voicing, rejoicing, the wine cups do bring
Pussywillows, cat-tails, soft winds and roses

Roland smiled beside her. He knew James always woke up when he heard Melinda sing, but maybe this time he'd take their advice and rest, rather than sing with them all night.

"La-la-la…" James murmured as he tried to stay awake.

Roland and Melinda smiled as they finished the song, Harsh nights and candlelights, woodfires a-blazin'
Soft lips and fingertips resting in my soul
Treasuring, remembering, the promise of spring
Pussywillows, cat-tails, soft winds and roses

Melinda smiled as she watched James struggling to stay awake. She knew he liked the song and wanted to hear it, and possibly accompany them, but she also knew that he needed to rest. "It's all right, James," she murmured. "Just go to sleep. If you feel like it tomorrow, we can sing some more."

"Amber too?" James murmured.

"Of course Amber too," Melinda smiled. "You can even sing with Prince Blizzard and Duchess Kitty if you want. I've heard you all sing your 'la-la-la' song, and you sound so cute together!"

"Okay," James smiled as he finally fell asleep.

"Okay," Roland smiled as he tucked him and Prince Blizzard in his crib. "But for now, go to sleep, James, and we'll see what happens tomorrow."