Haven i Jerne

It was an exceptionally clear morning, with snowflakes sparkling like tiny diamonds in the sunlight, and the garden lay in serene tranquility. Lystig and Fjære sat at the entrance of their den, enjoying steaming cups of rosehip tea kindly conjured by the Christmas Spirit.

“Things are going really well,” said Lystig, glancing up at the old oak where Lucia’s flame still burned brightly in the lantern. “But there’s still a lot to do before Christmas Eve.”

Fjære nodded. “Yes, but with the Christmas Spirit by our side, we’ll manage.”

As if she had heard her name, the Christmas Spirit appeared before them. Her presence instantly brought a warm sense of calm and joy.

“You’re making great progress,” she said with a gentle smile. “But to succeed fully, you’ll need a little extra help.”

Fjære tilted her head curiously. “Help? From whom?”

Before the Spirit could answer, there was a loud thud followed by a series of clumsy noises from a pile of snow nearby. Emerging from the snow was a small, round elf with rosy cheeks and a crooked hat. Dusting himself off and blinking in confusion, he broke into a wide grin.

“Lystig, my old cousin! Great to see you!” he shouted, stumbling toward them and nearly tripping over his own feet.

“Klunte!” exclaimed Lystig, a mix of delight and apprehension in his voice. “What are you doing here?”

Cousin Klunte, as his name suggested, was renowned for causing chaos wherever he went. But he also possessed a charm and unwavering optimism that made it hard to stay mad at him.

“The Christmas Spirit said you needed help, and who’s better at spreading Christmas cheer than me?” Klunte puffed up proudly, causing his hat to fall over his eyes.

Fjære whispered to Lystig, “Is this really a good idea?”

Lystig shrugged. “We’ll see.”

The Christmas Spirit placed a hand on Klunte’s shoulder and said, “Although Klunte has a tendency for… mishaps, he also has a big heart and a knack for finding solutions in the most unexpected ways. You’ll see he can be a valuable ally.”

“Thank you, Christmas Spirit,” said Klunte, bowing so deeply that he toppled over backward, landing on his backside. Laughing loudly, he got back up. “I’m ready for anything!”

Lystig sighed and smiled. “Alright, Klunte. We could use help placing more lights along the garden paths. Think you can handle that?”

“You bet!” Klunte replied enthusiastically, grabbing a basket of small lanterns. He headed toward the paths, but within moments, he slipped on an icy patch, scattering the lanterns everywhere.

Fjære quickly flew over to assist. “Careful, Klunte!”

“I’m fine!” Klunte insisted, trying to pick up the lanterns. Unfortunately, his elbow knocked against a branch, sending a pile of snow cascading down onto him.

Lystig couldn’t help but laugh. “He’s a walking snowball!”

Despite his many blunders, Klunte managed to place the lanterns along the paths. By dusk, they glowed beautifully, casting a warm and inviting light that made the entire garden feel even more magical.

When the work was done, they all gathered near the den to warm themselves by a small fire—one that Klunte had nearly extinguished by tripping over a bucket of snow.

“You certainly keep things interesting, Klunte,” said Fjære with a smile.

“And that’s why I’m here!” Klunte replied with a wink. “Lystig, we’re going to make this Christmas shine brighter than ever.”

The Christmas Spirit nodded in approval. “With Klunte on board, the magical light in the garden won’t just glow; it’ll bring smiles and laughter to everyone.”

As night fell and the snow sparkled in the light of the many lanterns, Lystig felt, for the first time, truly confident that they would succeed—no matter how many times Klunte stumbled along the way.