“Right…Cheers mate, I’ll remember that in future. I’m just going to go n-” I stopped abruptly when the dishevelled elf pointed a candy-striped spear directly at my throat.

“Who are you? Another of the Queen’s spies?” He grunted, as I put my hands up in surrender.

“Whoa, watch where you’re pointing that thing! I’m not a spy, I’m a schoolgirl.” I protested pointing at my jumper, hoping for my sake he believed me. Still not lowering his spear, he looked me up and down frowning.

“What are you doing here then?”

“I got trapped here by Santa’s obnoxious son.” I mumbled, breathing a sigh of relief as he finally removed his weapon from my throat.

“Noel?” He questioned, scratching his matted beard. I nodded furiously, brushing snow off my jumper. “Do you know anything about what’s going on down south?”

“Does the fact Christmas has vanished count?” His eyes grew slightly wider and he let out a deep sigh.

“I sensed something was wrong, what is your name girl?”

“Holly.” I smiled slightly, offering out a hand to shake. The elf ignored my hand and instead went to pick up a small brown knapsack.

“I am Evan Berrywell. Now, we must be leaving.”

“We? I kind of have Christmas to save, so I don’t know if…” The elf looked me directly in the eye, his pupils glimmering a dark blue.

“If you want to save Christmas, I will gladly help you.”

“Really?” I asked hopefully, having an armed elf on my side could work to my advantage.

“Indeed.” He gave a slight bow, as if he was addressing royalty. “It will be my pleasure.”

“Awesome!” Things were looking up. I had just less than two weeks to save yuletide. Bring it on!

“Here, have some of this, it will rouse you after your lengthy slumber.” Hehe, I didn’t think anyone still used the word ‘slumber’ this guy was priceless. I accepted the flask he offered and sniffed the contents.

“Mmm, mulled wine. How long was I asleep for exactly?”

“Oh, I’d say around a week.” The gulp of wine I’d just taken, sprayed out of my mouth like a fountain.

“A week? Are you serious?” Evan wiped the dark liquid off his face and groaned.

“Of course I am, people can fall asleep for months up here. It’s the nineteenth of December today.” Oh man, I had 5 days left to foil Noel’s plan.

“Let get cracking then!” I called over my shoulder, marching ahead through the icy tunnel.

“Wait! You don’t even know where you’re going.” I stopped abruptly, he was right, I actually had no idea where I was, let alone how to defeat Noel Pringle.

“Yeah, maybe you should lead the way.” I admitted, as he shuffled on in front of me.

Later on, after a completely soundless couple of hours, I decided to initiate conversation. Evan had not spoken a word to me since we had started walking, and I couldn’t bear awkward silences..

“So… Evan, where exactly are we ?” I said, making the small elf glare frostily at me.

“Keep your voice down!” He hissed in reply. “We are in the enchanted caverns.”

“Cool, why are you whispering? Because of cave-ins or something?” Evan continued to stare at me as if I was playing castanets and singing Copacabana at the top of my lungs.

“Queen Lumi’s agents are always listening” He whispered ominously, making me snort loudly. I wasn’t scared of some simpering, snowy hussy with a bad peroxide hairdo(n‘t). Snow Queen or not, she didn’t frighten me.

“Right, gotcha’. By the way, how did I get to wake up in that cavern back there? I fell asleep outside?” The elf shuffled onwards, not bothering to look at me when he responded.

“I carried you there when I found you. Otherwise, you would have been an easy meal for a passing Polar bear.” I shivered at this thought and scurried on after him.

“Well, cheers, that’s really sweet of you.” I was surprised to see his cheeks flush faintly red at my thank-you. “What exactly do you do then? Do you work for Santa?” Evan halted, causing me to nearly walk right into him.

“I did.” He said simply. “It’s a long story.” Oh oh, maybe I shouldn’t have brought up this subject.

“Oh I see-” I hurriedly muttered, “Do you like Brussels sprouts ?” He stared at me.

“Brussels sprouts?” I shrugged at him, it was the first thing that came into my head. Before I could hear his opinions on the little green vegetables, there came a loud twang from above my head. Looking up, I saw a silver arrow had missed my head by inches. What was Robin Hood doing in the Arctic?

“Place your hands on your head!” A booming voice called out from behind me. Swivelling round to face whoever it was that had spoken, I came face to face with a large group of burly men, dressed in heavy coats of white feathers.

“Big bird? Is that you?” I questioned, trying extremely hard not to laugh. I know I should be terrified but all I wanted to do was giggle at their ridiculous get-up. It was as if they’d raided Elton John's wardrobe. What I wouldn’t give for a digital camera.

80 per cent of Icelandic people believe in elves- Random Xmas fact #1