Hortensia caught her breath in delight, for there in front of here was the first violet of the season. She bent down to the precious flower bravely holding it's head up in the morning sunlight and kissed the delicate petals, 'such a joy' she thought, 'and what a good omen so early in the year'. The gnomes were in a general state of busy excitement. Spring was truly taking hold and every day brought new developments that were to be cherished and shared. Hortensia, as you know, was in charge of The Violet Walk, but there was also the great drifts of luminous bluebells, and all the new vibrant greens that graced the branches and bushes everywhere they looked. Aunt Mildred loved the milky yellow of the first primroses and was particularly proud of her wildflower patch full of early colour.
All of this abundant growth gave Archimedes a lot to think about. Hector had been busy telling the gnomes about some of the projects he had been involved with in the city. Archimedes felt a great deal more reassured that their involvement was to be kept a secret from other humans, but still wondered how a a daily influx of humans into their forest would affect their way of life. 'I shall have to wait and see, best to stay with where we are now and not worry too much'. He knew that he was privileged because he could always retreat to his island home in the middle of the river, but he worried for the forest and gnomes in his care.
Archibold and Hortensia had been keeping an open house since Eleanora and Hectors' arrival, and most evenings after supper were now spent making Plans. Hector had told them of some of the occupations that humans most liked to do when in nature, such as mountain biking, canoeing, walking and hiking and of course picnicking. Some of the gnomes had been amazed at how similar humans were in their interests, but still had serious doubts and wondered how they could both co exist in the same forest.
So Hortensia had started making lists. On one side of the long scroll of paper (another of Uncle Hunperdinck's special skills - he loved paper making) she started listing gnome activities and on the other side, human activities. She made lists of areas out of bounds and areas that they would volunteer for human use. Well it was overwhelming at first, but slowly a shape began to emerge of a forest that would have two worlds coexisting as one.
Gnomes would have access and stewardship of everything of course, but humans would also have access and pathways so that they could visit and be restored by the special life of the forest. If worse came to worse, the gnomes were well aware that should a human blunder into an out of bounds area such as the Sacred Clearing - then the stillness of the air would overwhelm them - they would simply fall asleep for a while and then wake up, go home and forget all about their visit.
Such a hive of activity, so much thinking and noticing and all combined with the bursting forth of Spring! Eleanora often sat in the golden light by the side of the river to be still for a while, dreaming and thinking and listening to the burble of the river as it brought news and ideas from afar. 'Soon it will all begin' she thought ' the changes are nearly upon us, we must hold steady in our hearts and listen carefully'.
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