Hector and Eleanora gazed down on the forest. They had climbed up a tall fir tree on the edge of the valley to catch the last of the evening's winter sunshine and also a good view of the forest before they settled down for the night. They had stopped to make camp rather then arrive at Persimmon Heights in the dark. Always a good idea to arrive in the morning if possible after a long journey, that way there was still a chance of doing something useful after all the greetings and celebratory cups of tea.
The two gnomes settled down beside their fire, their dinner of winter barley and dried herb broth and melted cheese on griddle cakes was laid out on a low stump of wood covered by a pink handkerchief. Behind them, strung between trees were their travel hammocks. Hector had collected enough wood to keep the fire going through the night as they were expecting a hard frost, and now Eleanora was gazing into her Blue Seeing Stone to check what might be happening with the all the gnomes that were in her care.
'Time to put on our cloaks Hector, even with the fire roaring I can feel the chill creeping all around.' Hector had hung the cloaks up like curtains on a nearby bush to warm up before they put them on, so as they wrapped themselves around with their thick and very sensibly lined woollen cloaks, they felt instantly warmer. 'Oh Hector I am so very glad that you have come along too, it makes the world of difference.' Hector grinned at her and popped some flat stones near the fire to warm up before he tucked them into the bedding of their hammocks to keep their feet warm - for as we all know, gnomes hate having cold feet and have been known to succumb to grumpiness and glumness when their feet are cold.
The moon was rising in the clear sky and Hector left Eleanora to dream and think by the fire as he went to listen to the trees and the wind. There were changes coming and Hector knew that that if the gnomes were going to adapt and succeed, that they would have to be in harmony with the deeper music and the slow time of the earth all around.
He could hear Eleanora singing a gentle song of peace to all that dwelt in the forest and knew in his heart that he had done the right thing by joining her on her mission. 'She will have to tell them of the changes' he thought, 'best that I am with her to support her, besides I could do with a good escapade myself!'. Hector was looking forward to going out on the river with Archibold and Stephanotis and to an adventure or two or even three or four! After his life in the city, he felt a longing for the wildness and freedom of a bit of white water rafting.
The brother and sister settled down for the night, soon Hector was snoring and Eleanora fell into a gentle slumber as she gazed into the flickering flames of the fire, safely tucked in her snug hammock. Tomorrow was a big day and she felt grateful for the peace and time to prepare.
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