Ivy and mystery......

True to form, Archibold and Stephanotis scrambled ashore and set to exploring and finding the perfect place for a picnic - you can imagine the sort of place they were searching for - fresh water, flat ground, perfect view, lots of dry firewood, nearby branches to hang two hammocks on - a really rousing challenge to be rewarded by fresh mint tea and a slice of Hortensia's chestnut cake. Suddenly Archibold stopped and putting a protective arm out to hold Stephanotis back, said  'steady on Lad, gently does it, someone else is here!'

Archibold wiggled his toes in his stripy socks and boots, ' just let me have a listen' and with that he sat down on a nearby rock, closed his eyes and began to listen to the ground beneath his feet. 'Well, well well, Stephanotis, this is a surprise for my boots - well you are in for a treat'. He set off at a fast trot with Stephanotis agog with impatience clambering behind him. 'Smell the woodsmoke yet? 'Archibold turned and winked - this was too much for his poor apprentice 'No, what smoke? What treat? Where, oh where are we going?'

Stephanotis was feeling a bit anxious, he was a long way from home and though he had been enjoying being a brave and dashing gnome on an escapade, he wasn't that fond of mysteries, the idea of an unknown someone else being on the island was unsettling to say the least.

Then with a twinkle and a wiggle of his corduroy clad bottom, Archibold suddenly disappeared. 'Over here Stephanoits, behind the ivy.' Stephanotis blinked and shuffled his feet, the thing was, he was worrying about what was behind the ivy, he remembered the day Archibold had forgotten about him and they had suddenly found themselves white water rafting with Archibold standing proud at the helm and not noticing that he had felt utterly terrified. 'Now then, all is well, hold out your hand and I'll guide you in.....'

Shutting his eyes Stpehanotis let Archibold pull him through the ivy and into the middle of a most splendid old oak tree. 'See the steps, just follow me and soon you'll see the view and meet someone very special - what an honour, what an honour indeed....' the two gnomes climbed the little steps for what seemed a very long and to be frank, rather an exhausting time. At the top they found themselves walking out onto a small wooden platform, surrounded by sunshine and the greenest of leaves and full of the sound of birdsong. Archibold was bowing low, Stephanotis looked up to see a very venerable gnome, dressed all in sage and linden greens, sitting on a log in front of a fire burning in a little stove. Looking up at Stephanotis he gave him an amused wink - 'On an escapade then Archibold?'