Come All Ye Faithful
‘Twas the night before Christmas when all though the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
But St. Nicholas didn’t come this year. Oh dear!
‘What is that incessant squealing?’
The Doctor dropped the acti-servo coupling to the floor with a flourish. He wiped his hands on an oil and who-knows-what-else stained rag that hung over his shoulder, getting more grime on his hands than off. He took a last look at the open roundel, stared at the exposed wires and circuits, and gave an exaggerated sigh. Then he turned on his heel. He squinted as he listened more closely to the sound.
The sound continued; faint but ever present.
‘Hmm,’ he said to himself. ‘Not quite random.’
The Doctor took a few steps towards the source of the sound and made an unpleasant noise with his lips.
‘Such a frequency! Absolutely horrible.’ He paused. ‘A mouse? A mouse in the TARDIS?! Well, we’ll soon see to that!’
The Doctor followed the noise. As he got closer to its source, he was sure that it was following a vague pattern of sorts. Bits kept repeating.
The noise got louder.
The trail of audio breadcrumbs led him back to the control room. His long strides took him inside without pause! And he stopped. And he listened. And he stared.
‘Oh come let us adore him. Oh come let us adore him. Oh come let us adore hiiiiiiiim...’
‘Peri!’ he shouted at last.
Peri dropped a red plastic ball and it landed on the floor with a pop! It rolled in a lazy half-arc, a thin metal hook clink-clanking every half rotation. It came to rest at the Doctor’s feet. Peri’s gaze shifted from the ornament, up the Doctor’s yellow pants and ridiculous rainbow jacket, and finally to rest on his frowning face.
‘Peri,’ the Doctor said softly. ‘Why is there a tree in my control room?’
Peri stepped away from the small, green plastic tree. It was half-covered in tinsel and garland and baubles. She waved her arms towards the tree in a dramatic fashion.
‘Merry Christmas, Doctor,’ she smiled.
‘Merry...,’ he huffed, but then tilted his head slightly, thinking. His eyes widened somewhat. ‘Is it?’
‘Well I don’t know truth be told,’ Peri said. ‘I mean, what calendar are we going by anyway? I’ve lost track of my personal time. I’ve completely stopped trying to date my journal entries. Do you know that...’
‘Where did you get this tree?’ the Doctor asked suddenly, walking past her and examining a string of garland.
‘I found it in an old storeroom. That’s what got me thinking about what time of year it was, in my time that is. I must have been with you over a year by now which means I’ve missed at least one Christmas,’ she paused. ‘I don’t suppose Time Lords even celebrate Christmas.’
‘Oh we have many holidays, and some of them resemble the traditional Christmas celebration of Earth in many respects.’ The Doctor was talking, but Peri saw that he had that “I’m answering your questions but my mind is elsewhere” look about him. Peri once calculated that he had that look approximately seventy-five percent of the time.
‘I always knew there would come a time when I wouldn’t or couldn’t be home for Christmas,’ Peri said. ‘But I never thought I’d miss it entirely!’
‘We can make that up,’ the Doctor said, turning quickly with a sudden joyous expression on his face. ‘We can take a vacation and celebrate Christmas in 1875, 2002, and 3050! Or how about spending the same Christmas Eve on seven different planets?! You’ve never experienced the Christmas Star until you’ve seen it from the viewport of the Balthazar 7...’
Peri frowned.
‘What’s wrong, Peri?’
‘It’s not the same. I want to have Christmas at Christmas time. My Christmas time.’
The Doctor frowned. Then he smiled sadly. He next tried to frown a sort of sad smile but ended up tweaking a muscle in his cheek. He settled on pursed lips.
‘That can be arranged!’ he said with a mad gesture and spin. He was at the controls, wildly flipping switches and pushing buttons. He was whistling “Winter Wonderland”. Peri moved beside him.
‘Where are we going?’ she asked.
‘Where?!’ the Doctor smiled. ‘To Christmas Time!’
***
The TARDIS materialized and the Doctor and Peri stepped out. The Doctor remained in, as he calls them, his “universally accepted” multi-coloured clothes but Peri, at the Doctor’s request, had changed into a festive sweater and pants. They had landed in the middle of what appeared to be a small village. The road they were on was made of stone, and the land was covered in a thin layer of snow. It wasn’t cold, but it wasn’t warm either; it was simply pleasant. There didn’t appear to be anyone around.
‘There doesn’t appear to be anyone around,’ the Doctor said.
‘Where are we?’ Peri asked, but the Doctor was off; his long strides carrying him across the stone road to one of the wooden buildings. Peri quickened her pace and followed.
This building, as all the others, was decorated for the holidays. Garland swung from windowsills, little twinkly lights blinked on strands of wire, baubles and ornaments swayed in the non-breeze, artificial snow lay on top of real snow. Without pausing to knock, the Doctor flung the door open and stepped inside.
‘Hello...?’ he said.
‘Who goes there?’ a voice cracked.
‘I do,’ the Doctor said.
Peri couldn’t tell where the voice had come from, but she noticed the Doctor staring down at his feet. She followed his gaze and let out a small gasp at what she saw.
A small man was standing just in front of the Doctor. He couldn’t be more than three feet tall. He wore green-brown clothes topped off with a floppy hat. His face was child-like and his ears came to the most distinctive points.
‘And who,’ the little man said. ‘Are you?’
‘Excelsis,’ the Doctor said. ‘Don’t you recognize me?’
The Doctor held his arms out in a sweeping gesture and stuck his chin out for good measure. The little man frowned and looked up at the Doctor. His eyes widened slightly.
‘Doctor,’ he said nonchalantly. ‘You’ve gained a foot and a hundred pounds. And you’ve dyed your hair...’
‘Poh!’ the Doctor squarbled, lowering his arms.
‘What are you doing here?’ Excelsis asked.
‘A visit,’ the Doctor replied. ‘I’ve brought a friend in the need of a little Christmas Cheer.’
Excelsis seemed to finally notice Peri. Peri was staring at the little man. Excelsis returned the stare, looking up at her. If he had eyebrows they would almost certainly be raised.
‘Are you...I mean, you look...’
‘Am I...?’ Excelsis looked lost.
‘I’m afraid Peri doesn’t believe in elves, my good Excelsis.’ the Doctor exclaimed.
‘Oh that,’ the elf said dismissingly. ‘Well come on, I suppose you’ll be wanting to see the big man?’
‘Oh yes,’ the Doctor smiled. ‘I haven’t chatted up Kris in some time.’
Excelsis lead the Doctor over to an express elevator that had popped up out of nowhere. Peri followed, dumbfounded. The group stepped into the elevator and a control panel appeared. It had one button which read “Down”. Excelsis pushed the button.
‘This is great,’ Peri said, half-smiling. ‘This is the best I’ve ever seen. The kids must love it here.’
Excelsis tapped the Doctor on the leg.
‘What is she talking about?’
‘Don’t mind her,’ the Doctor shrugged.
The elevator doors slid together and the car descended. Noise permeated the car before it had even stopped. As the doors slid open, the noise grew in a crescendo of joyous yuletide. Carols were being sung, whistled and hummed. Laughter and merriment filled the air. The Doctor, Peri and Excelsis stepped out of the elevator. When Peri turned back she saw a wooden wall. The elevator had disappeared.
There were little people running everywhere. Some were carrying boxes and bags, others streamers and baubles, others still wrapping paper and bows. They were all dressed like Excelsis and all had pointed ears. There were ridiculously large machines filling the room; row upon row of machines leading as far as the eye could see. The place was well lit, but there wasn’t a light bulb in sight. “Carol of the Bells” could be heard throughout the room, but Peri could not spot a speaker anywhere.
‘When I was six, my parents took me to Santa’s Village in Putnam County,’ Peri whispered, mostly to herself. A large Teddy Bear marched by carrying an armful of video games. ‘But something tells me we’re not at any cheesy Santa’s Village.’
Excelsis led the Doctor and Peri through the bustling activity. The machines warbled and beeped and toy trains ran on tracks around the perimeter carrying wooden dolls and baseball gloves in their cars. A little man-boy with pointed ears (Peri refused to think of them as elves) tipped his hat at Peri as she walked by.
At length, they made it to the other side of the huge chamber. There was a large door on the wall with a placard above. It read : “S.C.” Excelsis knocked to the tune of “Jingle Bells”, opened the door and walked in. Sitting behind a desk in a frilly white shirt, with glasses on the end of his nose, was Santa Claus. He was going over a pile of papers.
‘That’s...’ Peri began.
‘This isn’t...’ she continued.
‘But how...’ she ended.
The Doctor turned to Peri with a look of condescension.
‘Yes Perpugilliam, there is a Santa Claus,’ he said.
And Peri fainted.
* * *
‘.....androids, Sontarans, Daleks...all in stride. But when she finds out there really is a Santa Claus, she faints! Really, I must try to find companions made of stronger stuff.’
Peri came around and as her vision slowly cleared, she could make out the Doctor talking to Excelsis. She could feel something cool on her forehead and turned to see a friendly, wise, old face smiling at her behind whiskers as soft and white as snow. His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry.
‘Feeling better?’ he asked.
‘Yes,’ Peri smiled. ‘Th-thank you.’
Peri sat up on the couch.
‘Ah,’ Excelsis said, pointing at Peri. The Doctor turned and knelt down in front of her.
‘Are you alright?’ he asked.
‘Yes, I’m fine Doctor,’ she replied. ‘It was just...a bit of a shock.’
The Doctor patted her knee. ‘Yes, we could see that,’ he said, smiling.
‘Well, Kris,’ the Doctor said, standing up. ‘I see the operation is running smooth as ever. I don’t suppose you have anything new that I could take a look at?’
Kris smiled. ‘It took us a while to clean up after your last visit, Doctor, and it took a year or two for the kilt-fad to die down with the younger workers. I‘m not sure Excelsis would enjoy it very much if I let you poke around again.”
‘Poke around? Poke around!’ the Doctor huffed, looking at Excelsis. ‘If it weren’t for us setting you up here you wouldn’t be doing so well, remember that!’
‘If you tell me that Santa Claus is a Time Lord I think I’m going to faint again,’ Peri said.
‘What?’ the Doctor huffed. ‘No, no, Peri. He’s human, like you. Kris just has, how shall we say...? A unique understanding of Time. The Time Lords just gave him a push in the right direction. A little hardware here and a little suggestion there. He was stuck in the same area for the longest time.’
‘What?’ Peri asked.
‘Well how else do you think he visits all the little boys and girls of Earth in one night on a sleigh, hmm?’
‘Well...’ Peri said.
‘The technology of the Time Lords,’ the Doctor pronounced, suddenly proud of his heritage. ‘And I suppose you thought it was Pixie Dust!’
‘No, the Pixie Dust only made the reindeer edgy,’ Kris said.
And Peri fainted again.
***
This time when she awoke, she was lying on a bed in a room that was decorated like a dollhouse. The sheets and quilt were very comfortable but the rest of the room seemed to be made of coloured paper. Careful not to touch anything, Peri got up and went through the cardboard door.
She found herself in a wooden-paneled hallway. The corridor smelled of Murphy’s Oil. Numerous framed pictures hung along the walls. Peri looked at the photographs as she walked along. They were taken from many decades running back as far as the late 19th century, so far as Peri could guess. Most of them had Santa, or rather Kris, in them. He was standing with a woman in some of them, but she only appeared in the ones that seemed to be taken from the 1950’s.
Peri made her way into a beautiful living room. Plush chairs and expensive-looking tables filled the area. A large screen television and entertainment system took up most of one wall. A hockey game was on the television, its volume muted. The Doctor was sitting in one of the chairs, his feet planted firmly on an ottoman. He had a cup of tea in his hands and had the most satisfied grin on his face. He looked up.
‘Ah Peri,’ he said, placing the teacup and saucer on an end table and popping up. ‘Have you gotten that all out of your system now?’
Peri smiled sheepishly. ‘Yes, Doctor. Sorry. I think I’ve come to terms with it.’
She cleared her throat. ‘Santa Claus is real...’ she prodded.
‘Yes,’ the Doctor said.
‘He’s human, but he has a “unique understanding of time”, whatever that means,’ she muttered the last bit under her breath.
The Doctor nodded.
‘And he’s able to bring toys to all the children of the world because you gave him some Time Lord technology a while ago?’
‘Four-hundred and thirty years ago give or take. Yes,’ the Doctor said.
‘OK. I accept it. But I have a lot of questions...’
The Doctor frowned. ‘Not too many I hope.’
‘Well,’ Peri said. ‘As a matter of fact, yes. But I’ll narrow it down to a few big ones. First, if Santa Claus exists, why do all adults think he doesn’t and why do they have to get all the presents for their kids if he can just bring them?’
‘That,’ the Doctor said. ‘Is a very tricky question, and I don’t think I could make it make sense to you. Suffice it to say Santa Claus does exist and he does bring presents to all the good boys and girls. What adults believe really has nothing to do with it. It’s the children that count.’
‘Now I’m even more confused,’ Peri frowned. ‘And secondly, are you telling me that elves are real?’
‘Believe your own eyes, Peri!’ the Doctor said. ‘You saw them.’
‘But elves, pixies, magic! I thought you didn’t believe in magic.’
The Doctor put an arm around Peri and led her out of the room.
‘As my good friend Bill Shakespeare was fond of quoting me: “There are more things in heaven and earth...” Now, shall we have some supper?’
***
Kris passed the snow-covered walk as he crossed towards the stables. He always visited the lads before supper and it was one of his favourite parts of the day. Grendel and Bluenose would have finished their grooming chores and Kris would have the place to himself. He pushed open the double doors and walked inside. He could hear the reindeer shuffling and breathing in their pens. He walked over and produced a carrot from a deep pocket.
‘Good evening Dasher,’ he said, holding the carrot up. Dasher nibbled away at the vegetable.
Kris scratched the top of Dasher’s nose. ‘Cold night, what?’ he asked the reindeer.
‘Isn’t it,’ a voice answered from farther in the stable.
Kris turned and walked back into the open. His sleigh sat in the middle of the stable, and on the sleigh was a short man dressed in black. The snow on his coat seemed to stick to
the man, not melting in the warm stable. A black top hat sat on the seat beside him. His long, black, greasy hair hung to his shoulders and his features were nearly as pointed as the elves. But Kris knew this was no elf.
‘Frost,’ Kris said, walking to the front of the sleigh.
‘Hello, Kringle,’ Frost said, stretching his arms out over the back of the seat. ‘Long time no see.’
‘What do you want, Frost?’ Kris asked.
‘Well now, that’s a good question,’ Frost said with a gap-toothed sneer. ‘Should I sit on your lap?’
‘I don’t have time for this,’ Kris said and turned to leave.
Frost stood suddenly in the sleigh. ‘How very true!’ he called and Kris turned back. ‘Santa Claus. Beloved by millions. Victim of a most unexpected and heinous accident.’
‘What are you talking about?’ Kris asked, slowly beginning to back away towards the stable doors.
‘I’m talking about time,’ Frost said. ‘You were right. You don’t have time for this. I’m afraid you no longer have time for anything.’ Frost had something in his hand. He waved it once and a ray of sparkling gold light shot forth. It engulfed Kris who flailed against the onslaught. The reindeer snorted as the light disappeared and Kris with it.
Frost was chuckling. ‘Woo,’ he said, placing his hat on his head and stepping off the sleigh. He walked to the spot where Kris disappeared, and looked down at the small device in his hand. ‘That worked well.’
The reindeer were snorting and pawing at the ground. The sound echoed through the stable. Frost looked up and smiled.
‘Have a holly jolly Christmas,’ Frost danced.
He flicked his hand and the stable doors flew open.
‘Oh by golly have a holly jolly Christmas…’
A cold breeze flew in, carrying snow and sleet with it.
‘This year!’
A small whirlwind of snow surrounded Frost and he disappeared into the white. The wind blew back out the doors of the stable and the reindeer were left alone.
***
The Doctor, Peri, and Excelsis sat around the long wooden table. Foodstuffs of various sorts lined its length; turkey surrounded by dressing, cranberries, mashed turnip and potatoes cooked in a variety of ways. Red wine, white wine, water and milk. A plate of cookies sat at the far end in front of an empty chair.
All was quiet. In the other room, Sting could be heard singing “Gabriel’s Message“. The Doctor blew air through his lips, creating a poppity-pop sound. Peri looked around and smiled. Excelsis poured his third cup of wine.
‘Shall I go see what’s taking the Big Guy so long?’ Excelsis asked after taking a sip.
‘Yes,’ the Doctor said. ‘I think so. He’s probably lost track of time. I know how much he loves those reindeer.’
Excelsis got up and left Peri and the Doctor alone in the dining room. Sting was finished and now a choir was belting out “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen“. Peri was looking at the food and folding and unfolding her napkin repeatedly.
‘Looks good doesn’t it?’ the Doctor asked, taking in the array of food.
‘Yes it does,’ Peri agreed. ‘But looking at it just makes me hungrier. I’m looking forward to eating it.’
‘Excelsis will get Kris moving,’ the Doctor said.
Just then, Excelsis burst back through the doors to the dining room. The Doctor jumped up. Excelsis ran to the head of the table.
‘Kris is missing,’ the elf said.
***
They stood around the stables; the Doctor, Peri, Excelsis, Bluenose and Stuff.
‘I’d just finished cleaning the stables,’ Bluenose said. ‘I left because I know the Big Guy likes to spend some time chatting with the fellas. When I remembered I hadn’t put away the blankets, I came back to find the stable doors wide open. Snow had drifted in and Santa was no where to be found. I ran back out. Stuff was there. We searched but couldn’t find him.’
‘We’ve since double-checked and he’s nowhere to be found,’ Excelsis said.
The Doctor was standing by Blitzen’s den. He was uh-huh-ing, and hmmm-ing as the elves told their tale. Everyone was quiet then and looked at the Doctor. He turned to face them.
‘I believe Blitzen knows where Kris went,’ he said.
Excelsis moved over to the Doctor and looked at the reindeer. Blitzen made a snort and bobbed his head. He repeated the gesture, this time with greater urgency.
‘He’s pointing to the window,’ Excelsis said. ‘Santa must have gone that way!’
Excelsis turned and started giving orders to Bluenose and Stuff when the Doctor spoke again.
‘No,’ he said. ‘He’s not pointing at something beyond the window. He’s pointing at the window itself. Or rather at what’s on the window...’
Excelsis moved over to the window and hopped up on a log. He peered at the window. He lifted a hand and brushed his finger across the pane of glass. Then he turned, a sneer on his face.
‘Frost!’ he said.
***
The group was gathered back in Kris’s den. Excelsis and the Doctor were pacing. Peri sat in Kris’s chair. Bluenose and Stuff were near the windows, peering out every few seconds.
‘Who is Frost?’ Peri asked.
‘A jackal, a villain, the king-Grinch himself!’ Excelsis said, making no attempt to hide his distaste of the man.
‘All right, all right, let’s all calm down and think of something to do,’ the Doctor said.
‘Christmas Eve is in seven days,’ Stuff said. ‘We’ve got to get him back before then or there will be a lot of disappointed little children. Oh dear.’
‘Why would Frost do this?’ Peri asked. ‘Why kidnap Santa Claus?’
‘Who knows?’ Excelsis said. ‘He’s interfered before, whipping up a blizzard or freezing up the locks around the village. Making a nuisance mostly.’
‘He’s gotten braver then,’ the Doctor said. ‘And more cunning by the sounds of it, which also means more dangerous.’
‘Well, I see only one option,’ Excelsis said. ‘Search and rescue.’
‘I believe you may be right, but let’s not be too hasty. We should wait until Frost makes his intentions known,’ the Doctor said.
‘And if he has no intentions?’ Excelsis asked.
The Doctor was silent for a moment. ‘What’s the minimum time frame we’re looking at here? For Christmas to unfold normally, how soon will Kris need to be back?’
‘Well, it’s never happened before,’ Excelsis said. ‘We can take care of all the preliminary stuff in a bind. I’d say two days.’
‘Good then,’ the Doctor said, taking a seat in one of the plush chairs. ‘We’ll wait twenty-four hours. If we hear from Frost, we’ll see what he wants. If not...start planning your search and rescue.’
***
It didn’t take long for Frost to get in touch. Within the hour, a small package arrived on the front steps of Santa’s Workshop. The group gathered back in Santa’s den. Excelsis slowly opened the package, mumbling something about how pathetic the wrapping job was. He opened the box within, and removed a small glass globe. The globe was perched in an open claw that had a flat underside. Excelsis placed the globe on a table.
‘It’s one of those things-you-shake-and-it-snows-inside,” Peri said.
‘Yes, it is isn’t it?’ the Doctor said. ‘Well, here we go.’
The Doctor picked up the globe and shook it thrice. He placed it back on the table.
It began to snow inside the globe. A maelstrom of blue and white filled the glass. Twists and swirls of snow tried to escape the enclosed space. The snow soon began to die down and a face emerged from the miniature storm.
Nightmares from childhood came swooping back upon Peri like the storm within the globe. The face that appeared brought back a memory she had not experienced for many, many years. When she was very young, she watched a movie with her parents on television. It was a wondrous children’s movie, but one of the villains had given her nightmares for a week. The face within the globe could have been the character’s twin. The face within the globe was a dead ringer for the Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
‘By now you know that I have... removed Santa Claus from the Christmas equation,’ the voice of Frost was slightly tinny and echoed from within the glass bauble. ‘I have no demands. There will be no ransom. He will be returned to you on the eve of December 25th. Please do not try something foolish like trying to take him from me. This need not come to violence. Ta.’
The face faded away, and the snow died. The room was quiet for a long moment.
‘This is serious,’ the Doctor said at last. ‘It would appear Mr. Frost does not want Santa involved with Christmas this year, for whatever reason.’
‘He’s evil,’ Excelsis said. ‘He doesn’t need a reason.’
‘Oh I doubt very much that he’s evil,’ the Doctor said. ‘Angry. Misguided. Unhappy. Yes. But evil? No, I doubt that very much.’
‘Well he’s got Santa, and there’s going to be a lot of disappointed boys and girls Christmas morning if we don’t get him back.’
‘Agreed,’ the Doctor said. ‘Tell me what you have in mind.’
***
Kris sat quietly in his ice cage. It was cool but not cold, and Kris was used to lower temperatures. Frost had placed a wooden chair that was not uncomfortable in the small room. As well, Kris’s captor had placed a thin bedroll, an end table and a sample of magazines ranging from Time to Reader’s Digest to Doctor Who Magazine. A throw rug covered the floor. The rest of the place was hard ice; the walls, the ceiling, the bars.
Kris realised he wasn’t alone and put down the magazine with the article about the chap named Colin Baker.
‘All is taken care of,’ Frost said as he approached the ice bars.
‘Why, Frost?’ Kris asked. ‘What is the use of this?’
Frost smirked. ‘You’ve asked me that already.’
‘Yes!’ Kris boomed. ‘And I’m still waiting for an answer.’
‘And why should I give you an answer?’ Frost said. ‘When has anyone...’ but he cut himself off.
Kris softened his voice. ‘Why do you live alone in this blasted ice castle? Why don’t you try to make friends?’
Frost was silent for a moment. A pathetic black shadow against the blue ice.
‘Because,’ he said. ’Nobody wants a Charlie-In-The-Box.’
And he slunk away, leaving Kris alone again in his ice prison.
***
The wind blew through the icy pass; piercing notes echoing in the holes and cracks. A new sound joined the cacophony. It was of a lower pitch. A wheeze. A groan. A blue box materialized in the pass, and out of it stepped the Doctor, Peri and Excelsis.
‘It’s freezing,’ Peri commented, pulling the neck of her parka closer together.
‘Yes,’ the Doctor said. ‘We’re far away from the Village. Deep in Frost’s Realm.’
‘There’s his Castle,’ Excelsis said, pointing down the pass. Through the blowing snow and ice, the Castle loomed as a shadow.
‘I wish this plan of yours didn’t involve us landing so far away,’ Peri said through chattering teeth.
‘Bit of a walk I agree,’ the Doctor said. ‘But as it stands, necessary. Let’s go.’
They set out through the pass. The wind blew the hard snow into their faces and it was very cold. Even Excelsis, who came from a race of winter-dwellers, had a hard time of it. The pass eventually opened up and they came to a flat area of pure ice. The Castle stood before them. It was awesome in its horrific design. Made purely of ice, it was a shape
out of nightmares with twisted spires and criss-crossed battlements. Shadow lived within the ice, creating a moving darkness that danced along the sharp edges of the Castle.
The trio made their way to the front gates which opened silently at their approach.
‘Seems we’re expected,’ the Doctor said.
The group entered, with Excelsis leading the way. They crossed the icy courtyard. The gates closed again behind them. It was silent within the Castle walls. Outside, the wind still howled. Though the courtyard was open to the sky, no wind blew here. A slight sharp noise could be heard in the distance, like wind-chimes. Even without the wind, Peri couldn’t stop her teeth from chattering.
‘Hello?’ the Doctor called. ‘Anyone home?’
In reply, the shadows at the edge of their vision stirred. Out of the darkness shapes moved. The group could feel something closing in on them. The shadows took form.
‘Snowmen,’ Peri said, but her mirth was short-lived.
‘Fell Snowmen,’ Excelsis corrected.
Grotesque Snowmen surrounded the trio. Their eyes dripped shadow, their snow arms were powerfully packed, and their massive torsos sludged through the icy-snow towards the group. The Doctor, Peri and Excelsis stood back to back as the monstrosities closed in.
‘Doctor...’ Peri said, gripping his arm.
‘It’s all right Peri,’ he said. ‘If I’m right, they won’t harm us.’
‘And if you’re wrong?’ Peri asked.
Excelsis answered, ‘We won’t stand a snowball’s chance in...’
‘We give up!’ the Doctor interrupted. ‘Take us to your leader.’
***
They were led through long halls of blue ice. Peri was shivering from the cold and marveling at how the Doctor and Excelsis continued on with nothing more than their normal clothes. They were brought into a large chamber dominated by a throne made of sleet. Frost sat upon the throne. His black top hat sitting at an angle upon his head. His black coattails were splayed out along the bottom of the great chair, his long hands laid upon the arms.
The Snowmen pushed the group to the centre of the throne room and then took up residence along the walls. In the distance, the icy wind-chimes were but a whisper.
‘Ah, you must be Mr. Frost,’ the Doctor said. ‘How do you do? I’m the Doctor. This is Peri. And Excelsis I’m sure you already know...’
Frost didn’t answer. He simply stared at the trio, his long fingernails tapping at the icy arms of the chair causing small chips to fall off and become lost on the snow-covered floor.
‘This is it?’ he whispered at last. ‘An ancient elf, a clown, and a girl? Really, I thought Santa Claus was worth at least the Marines.’
‘What do you want, Frost?’ Excelsis asked.
‘Clown?!’ the Doctor huffed.
‘I want to stop Christmas from coming,’ he said calmly. ‘Oh, not even I can stop the religious side of things, but no Santa Claus? Now won’t that be a sad day? I can just see the faces of all those little boys and girls as they all cry “boo-hoo!”.’
‘Clown indeed,’ the Doctor muttered.
‘How horrible,’ Peri said.
‘Yes, isn’t it?’ Frost smiled.
‘But why?’ Peri asked.
‘Why?!’ Frost boomed. He stood and his coat flapped about him. ‘Christmas... Santa Claus... The North Pole... What wondrous things! Everyone loves a White Christmas. But when the presents are opened and the tree is taken down, nobody wants the snow anymore. Everyone complains about the storms and the slush and the temperature. Bah, humbug! I shall ensure that no children get their candy-canes and jelly-babies this year.’
‘You...’ Peri said. ‘You mean old...’
‘I’m afraid your words are falling on deaf ears, Peri,’ Excelsis said. ‘He’s a miser. Whatever he touches starts to freeze in his clutch.’
‘I’m too much,’ Frost agreed.
Frost waved his hand and the Fell Snowmen ushered them out of the chamber. The Doctor strained his neck to look back and he saw Frost slowly sit back on his throne. A sad look on his dark face. The Snowmen brought them down a line of halls to a cell across from Kris’s.
‘Rescue attempt failed then?’ Kris asked, looking up from his magazines. He took his reading glasses off, placed them in his shirt pocket and walked over to the ice bars.
‘Plan A was to talk some sense into Frost,’ the Doctor said. ‘Which failed, yes. But I didn’t really expect it to succeed. Plan B only requires that we wait.’
‘Wait?’ Kris said. ‘Christmas Eve is in four days! If we don’t get out of here, it’ll be the first Christmas I’ve missed since the early days in Smyrna.’
‘Don’t worry, Kris,’ the Doctor said. ‘You won’t miss Christmas. We wait.’
***
And wait they did. They didn’t see Frost for those four days. The grotesque Snowmen brought them food. They shared magazines. Kris fretted. The Doctor soothed. Until at last Christmas Eve was upon them. Kris was very quiet.
‘That’s it then,’ he said. ‘I’ve missed Christmas.’
***
Frost sat on his throne. Before him, a large shiny ice mirror stood. The mist cleared on its surface showing Frost Christmas Eve around the world. Christmas trees stood without presents. Stockings were hung, with care yes, but they remained empty. Children awoke and upon running downstairs were met with misery. Santa had not come that year.
‘But I was good all year,’ one little boy cried.
The children’s joyous faces turning to sorrow and tears brought a smile to Frost’s face.
***
They sat quietly in their cells. Peri was hunched in a ball, trying to keep warm. Excelsis was scratching at the ice walls. The Doctor sat against the wall, his legs stretched out and crossed in front of him, his arms behind his head, a satisfied grin on his face. Across the hall, Kris was defeated. He sat in his chair and stared at the ground. Frost appeared outside the cells. Kris looked up at him.
‘You’re a very mean man,’ was all he could bring himself to say.
‘Yes, I suppose that I am,’ Frost answered. ‘Christmas has come and gone. No children played with dolls or trains. No one banged their gar-ginkers. Everywhere children are crying “Why Santa Claus? Pour quoi Pere Noel? Perche no Babbo Natale?”’
‘And that makes you happy?’ Peri asked.
Frost paused for a moment. He looked down at his feet and didn’t answer.
‘I’m a man of my word, Kringle,’ he said at last. ‘You may go now.’
And like that, he was gone.
***
The Snowmen came and let the prisoners free. There was no sign of Frost. They were led to the front gates of the Castle and shut out. The Doctor led the way back to the TARDIS.
The air was cold though no wind blew. The sun was bright in the sky making their trek an easy one. Once inside, the Doctor ran to the console to check on some readings.
‘I know it’s not worth asking,’ Kris said. ‘But I don’t suppose you’d consider going back in time and preventing Frost from doing all this?’
The Doctor turned to him and smiled.
‘I’ll do better than that!’ he exclaimed ere he dove out of sight, re-wiring some cables under the console.
‘It worked then?’ Excelsis asked.
‘What worked?’ Kris asked.
‘The Doctor set up some sort of time-bubble thing. I guess it made time go by faster in Frost’s Castle than outside... or something,’ Peri said.
The Doctor was standing again.
‘That’s it exactly, Peri’ he said, laying a finger aside of his nose. ‘I simply borrowed some “unused” time, filtered it into the temporal bubble around Frost’s Castle, loaded up some sad children images in the TARDIS computer and voila! Frost believes his job is done, he keeps his word and frees you, and there are still three days until Christmas Eve.’
Kris was frowning.
‘What’s wrong?’ the Doctor asked.
‘Wonderful gobbledygook,’ he said. ‘But what’s to stop Frost coming back for revenge?’
It was the Doctor’s turn to frown.
‘Just don’t go ruin a good idea will you?’ he said. ‘Let’s get you back to the Village. You’ve got a lot of work to do in three days!’
***
They returned to the Village to much fanfare. Everyone was excited and after convincing everyone he was alright, Kris ordered the elves back to work. More rapid than eagles his workers they went and a thousand elf voices could be heard singing.
‘We must get ready for Christmas Eve...
Tra la la la la la la.
Toys and clothes for Penny and Steve...
Tra la la la la la laaa.’
Kris had a good meal and set about his preparations, for the Doctor was right; there was much to do. Kris checked his lists twice, the elves packaged and wrapped toys and clothes and books and CDs. The Doctor helped Stuff with the preparation of the sleigh. And Peri watched all with a childlike fascination.
When evening fell, a cold wind blew up. Work stopped suddenly as a shadow passed over the joyous mood. Everyone listened to the hail blowing against the windows. All that could be heard was the howl of the wind and the tappity-tap-tap of the snow blasting against the glass of the windows. And then, deep within the howl of the wind a voice could be heard. It started out low, and then it started to grow : ‘Kringle! You tricked me! Come out and face me!’
Kris and the Doctor made their way outdoors, followed closely by Peri and a host of elves. The wind and snow had died down and they could see Frost; a dark, formless shadow lingering on the path.
Frost stared at the group in front of him. Hundreds of elves with sad looks on their little faces stood in a semi-circle. In front of them stood Kris, the Doctor and the girl. ‘You didn’t play fair,’ he whispered.
‘What is it you want?’ Kris asked.
‘I want Endless Winter!’ Frost cackled. ‘I want Christmas no more.’
‘This isn’t right, you know,’ the Doctor said. ‘There’s no point in causing any more grief.’
‘What do you know of grief?’ Frost’s voice cracked.
‘A fair deal, I’m afraid,’ the Doctor whispered after a slight pause.
‘Frost,’ Kris said, and his voice was full of warmth. ‘Just tell us what we can do.’
Frost was silent a long time. The wind blew about him ‘If you...’ Frost stopped. Some of the elves gasped.
‘Peri...’ the Doctor said, but Kris held his arm.
Peri was walking through the snow, shivering in her sweater. In her hands, she held a neatly wrapped package. Frost stared at her. She stopped and looked down at him. She held the gift towards him.
‘Merry Christmas,’ she said.
Frost’s mouth dropped open. He titled his head at her. The Doctor held his breath. Then Frost reached out and accepted the gift. Peri took a step back. Frost stared at her a moment longer and then looked down at the package. With his long fingers he unwrapped the present. The ribbon and foil fell to the snowy ground. His eyebrows shot up. He reached in and pulled out a small potted plant.
‘It’s Wintergreen,’ Peri said. ‘It grows well in colder climes.’
An eternity that lasted no more than a second passed. The Doctor was sure he saw a lone tear fall out of Frost’s eye. The tear turned to ice and was lost in the falling snow. Frost looked up at Peri. A smile slowly appeared on his face. But it was not the cold smile she had seen before. It was a kind of smile no one had ever seen on Frost’s face. It was a warm smile.
‘Merry Christmas to you,’ he said.
This time it was Excelsis who fainted.
‘A bit cold out here isn‘t it?’ Frost said, laughing uneasily. ‘Perhaps you all should get inside.’
Frost brought his smile back to Peri, and then turned to leave.
Kris took a step forward. ‘Jack,’ he said after a moment. Frost slowly turned back. ‘Would you care to join us?’
‘Yes. I’d like that,’ he said. His face suddenly went serious again. ‘But I can’t stay long or that warm air will get me all wishy-washy.’
All the elves laughed and the singing started up again in full force. Everyone went inside and the preparations for Christmas Eve were put aside for the moment. A wonderful celebration ensued. Pennywinkle made a scrumptious meal and Frost, Frost himself, carved the roast beast.
After dinner, Peri walked past Grendel who was holding a cold cloth to Excelsis’s forehead. She approached Kris who was sitting at the end of the table, smoking a pipe. When she saw the smoke encircling his head like a wreath, she laughed in spite of
herself. She was filled with a warmth of cheer like she hadn’t experienced since she was a child. Her grin was broad when she took a seat beside him. He smiled at her.
‘I wanted to thank you for everything,’ she said. ‘I haven’t had such a wonderful Christmas in a long time. I’m sorry I stopped believing in you.’
‘That’s alright Perpugilliam,’ he said. ‘You lost sight of the Christmas Magic. But you have it again. It’s deep down in your heart. That is my gift to you this year.’
‘I wish I had gotten you something,’ she said.
‘But you did, my dear,’ Kris looked over at Frost who was shaking a flabbergasted Excelsis’s hand. ‘You’ve shown me I still have a lot to learn. And you’ve given me a new friend.’
‘Well,’ the Doctor said as he appeared at the table. ‘Things are well in hand. How do you feel, Peri?’
‘Wonderful, Doctor,’ she said. ‘Thank you.’
‘Good-bye my friend,’ the Doctor said, shaking Kris’s hand.
‘Wherever you go Doctor,’ Kris said. ‘Trouble seems to follow. But somehow you make it...fun. Just don’t make your visits too frequent.’
The Doctor smiled. Peri gave Kris a hug and she and the Doctor were off.
And Santa Claus did come that year.
***
A bump caused Peri to wake. She slowly and quietly got out of bed and put on her housecoat and slippers. Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, she opened the door to her room and went out into the hall. It was dark, but the flicker of the fire in the hearth below reflected off the banisters and walls. She made her way down the stairs.
Halfway down, she peered through the railings and could see the living room. The tree looked beautiful with its lights and garland and tinsel and ornaments. There were some wrapped presents under it. Her gaze turned to her stocking, hung over the mantle of the fireplace. It was packed full of toys and goodies. Santa had come!
She was about to head back to her room, when a noise caught her attention. It sounded like a humming. She looked back into the room and noticed a shadow playing across the floor. Someone was in the room!
She froze, her mouth and eyes open wide. The shadow moved. A red shape came into view and stood before the fireplace, a large sack of toys over his shoulder. He stopped suddenly and turned, noticing Peri sitting on the stairs. Peri held her breath.
‘Merry Christmas, Perpugilliam,’ Santa smiled.
And then he laid a finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod up the chimney he rose.
Peri smiled.
‘Merry Christmas to all,’ she whispered. ‘And to all a good night!’