Hortensia had found herself becoming increasingly bold every time Harold came for a walk in the Forest. She had started looking forward to his arrival and even enjoying the thought of time spent in his company. Harold himself was amazed at his changed behaviour, for even though the mornings were frosty and the air chilly at mid day, he still found himself heading off every afternoon into the forest for a wander.
Soon his holidays would be over and he would be returning to the city and his work. Just lately his thinking had started to change, even though he still thought about clearing the forest for his planning application for a housing estate, he had begun to feel a reluctance and resistance within himself at the thought of what he would miss. He had come to realise that he felt at home in the forest in a way that he never did when back in the city, somehow he felt that if he could only spend more time walking in the trees, that he would remember more of what really mattered - and the hopes and dreams that he had once believed in.
As soon as he entered the forest Hortensia would go to wait for him at the Sacred Circle, the trees no longer tried to trip him up or to put obstacles in his way, but would send a rustle on the leaves to alert the gnomes that he was on his way. Harold was very warmly dressed these days with a hat and gloves and several layers, including a thermal vest and proper boots instead of his shiny shoes. As he settled down at the base of his favourite tree to have a think and a day dream, he would find himself slipping into a gentle snooze.
Well, that was Hortensia's cue, she had consulted Aunt Mildred and made up a suitable balm of chamomile and lavender and would start to gently rub the soothing balm into his temples. She had taken to singing to him, songs to remind him of who he was, as she called them when asked by Archibold what she was singing about.
This particular day she was singing about Spring in the Forest and reminding herself that even as the forest was settling into slow winter time, that the buds of Spring were preparing for their time of unfurling new growth. She was so busy with her singing and remembering and the rubbing of her soothing balm, that she forgot to keep an eye on baby Harriet. Ever since baby Harriet had been given her blue stone of promise from Lady Eleanora, she had taken to being even more independent than normal. With a most speedy and dexterous crawl, she crept up Harold's sleeping form and curled up on the soft cashmere scarf inside his tweed jacket, for a little nap next to his heart.
Hortensia saw Harold begin to wake up just as she saw baby Harriet stretching her arms out and gurgling from her nest just inside his jacket. Ignoring her Mother's frantic pleas and gestures she began to crawl closer to Harold's sleepy face. 'Oh no, Harriet, what have I done? Come here, Oh please come here'. Not in the least daunted, Harriet crawled onto Harold's shoulder and smiled at him as he opened his eyes in stunned amazement.
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