There never have been elves, and humans have never been spirited to the netherworld by them

Although I like to think of myself as a material pragmatist in all things, I would have to say never say never to this particular statement if only on the old more things in heaven and earth clause, not to mention no smoke without fire, and even certain childhood encounters which persist as being vivid if not wholly corporeal. In this sense at least, Sir Olaf rings true, to me at least, and in singing it I'm always aware of other presences lurking just beyond my field of vision...

Whither, I wonder, the well-springs of the wee-folk? Or of the supernatural per se? Why do we fear it if it doesn't exist? And why the persistence of this most objectively subjective realm of wonderment even in these sour times?