Archimedes was sitting on an old stump at the edge of the river. He was feeling a bit melancholic about the day's events, proud as he was of Eleanora and her guidance - and much as he knew that her pledge was the only way forward - with all his being he wished that things could have turned out differently. As one of the older Venerables and a Keeper of Time and Memory, he had been allowing himself to remember some of the old tales from times when gnomes had trusted humans and worked together for their common good. As far as he could recall, he just couldn't remember a single time when the gnomes hadn't been betrayed by humans and had had to face losing their homes and retreat into fewer and fewer of their sacred places. 'I shall have to talk with Hector, he has much to do with modern humans, perhaps he can lighten my sense of foreboding.'
So gently standing up, for he was than a little stiff after sitting so long by the water's edge, he set off back to Persimmon Heights. As he rounded Aunt Mildred's mint garden and was making his way up the hill, he was met with great enthusiasm by an excited Archibold. 'Hortensia sent me to find you, suppers ready and she has made your favourite potato and cheese pie.' As you can imagine, Archimedes' pace picked up and the two gnomes were home in no time at all and joining the others round the packed table.
Everyone tucked in and because of the momentous events of the day, had seconds and a few thirds just to steady themselves after the shock of such a turbulent meeting. As Hortensia served out the stewed plums with golden custard - one ruby plum each was more than enough as they were so full - Archibold rose to his feet. 'Hortie and I have been talking as we prepared the dinner, and we want to bring into the open everyone's big fear about our project. We know that all of us have heard the stories of how we don't have anything to do with humans directly because Things always end badly for us gnomes. Well, we want to say that if we know that, why can't we set things up so that just the Old Lady and Harold know us for now and that it will stay that way. That way we can chose which humans to relate to and when?'
Such sensibility left the gnomes silent with relief and admiration - though it was true they were also very full. Then at last Hector stood up, 'what a good idea, troubles always come from a certain type of ambitious human, they are fairly easy to spot so if we aren't going to be involved and visible to all of them, we can work out how to handle the others!' Such a satisfactory solution to such a deep anxiety was a cause for general celebration. Humperdinck pulled out his concertina and soon the gnomes were singing and waving their mugs of mint tea in their air as they celebrated a a truly momentous day.
Hortensia paused on the stairs, she was carrying baby Harriet up to bed, but had stopped to gaze through the little window. The moon was shining brightly over the forest, hugging Harriet to her she looked down at her sleepy baby, 'Oh Harriet, such times ahead Little Darling, may you always be safe in all that you do.' Baby Harriet blinked at her and gave a little smile as she snuggled in her shawl, she wasn't worried - after all she had Eleanora and the Blue Stone to guide and protect her as well as the best parents a baby gnome could ask for!
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