Eleanora was debating whether to stop off on her journey down to visit Hortensia and the Gnomes of the Forest and to spend some time with Hector. Visiting Hector required quite a lot of courage and stamina, and she wasn't quite sure that she could face what was involved in visiting him. Hector was her remarkable and somewhat unconventional brother - especially in his choice of home - for Hector lived in a city.
Of course we all know that gnomes can live happily in cities, but for a gnome with a wild and free way of life to voluntarily choose to go into the density of a city, requires a lot of independence of thought. Eleanora always visited at night, as just the thought of all the noise and dangers of surveillance cameras and the general speed of everyone rushing around - without anyone seeming to listen with their feet - well it could all be too much during the day. As it was, even at night she felt the crush of the sleeping humans' dreams lying densely in the air, 'no room for them to even dream freely ' she often thought.
Once when she was younger, she had hidden in a park until nightfall rather than risk become overwhelmed and confused. Hector had chuckled and come to rescue her from under what was a particularly beautiful camellia bush - people had remarked for weeks afterwards that they had never seen a camellia bush stay in such glorious flower for so long - a legacy that of her visit that Hector was still proud of.
Hector was an expert at abseiling and his merge and flow skills were second to none. He loved keeping his rhythm as he dashed about amongst all the different currents that he encountered on his daily rounds. He relished his job of encouraging nature, wherever possible, to flourish in abundance in the most unexpected places. He thought of himself as a front line Gnome Warrior, preserving the rights of nature amongst all the chaos of city life.
He lived on the balcony of a block of flats amongst a collection of cactus and geraniums (all gnomes have a soft spot for geraniums), his human was a wiry and gentle man who always dressed in black leather and rode a gleaming motor bike through the city traffic. Several times when going on longer trips with other humans on motor bikes, Hector had been tied onto the front of the motorbike and had enjoyed a thrilling escapade into unknown territories.
Eleanora decided to yield to her instincts and to have a brief stop for tea with Hector on her way South. In her heart she deeply admired and loved him in all his difference and courage. She packed some of her smoked cheeses and a new stone or two in some fresh moss in her basket. Blue stones, if used frequently, sometimes needed to return to their home and be renewed in the clear waters of the mountain pool. Over the years, Eleanora had become used to always being prepared with extra supplies. She also brought some twists of paper with the seeds of mountain gentians as presents. The vibrant blue of their Spring flowers always inspired hope in the hearts of winter weary gnomes.
Monday, 23 January 2012
Monday, 16 January 2012
Eleanora in the moonlight....
Eleanora was walking in the moonlight, she loved the feel of the cold as it settled on the trees and earth. Below her feet she knew that animals were safely sleeping in the warmth of their burrows and dens, so the beauty of the frost - glinting white and sparkling as it settled on the firs and the rocks - seemed like a dream. 'No matter how many times I see this' she thought 'I will never forget what a gift it is to live here and to see such beauty.'
She was walking to the edge of the river, to her favourite place by a pool of still water. She folded a shawl on a rock to cushion her from the cold and sat still in the silence of the moonlight, staring up at the stars. Carefully she held the blue stone up to the light, it was her way of feeling what baby Harriet was up to and to send her love and guidance. 'To be so brave so young - take care, life is long and your time now is to grow and enjoy your time as a child, so much for you yet to learn when you are ready'. She turned the stone in the light and back in her cot in Persimmon Heights, baby Harriet smiled in her sleep.
Eleanora was very proud of Harriet's courage, she was also aware of the worry that she would have picked up from her parents and family to encourage her to take such an extreme course of action. To voluntary chose to befriend a human at such a young age was a sign of her wisdom and also of her lack of experience. 'I must go to visit soon' she thought 'time to stock up on Aunt Mildred's foot balm and Hortensia's wild strawberry jam'. For all of her wisdom, great learning and kindness, Eleanora was still a gnome, and all gnomes have a longing for comfortable feet and tasty treats.
Walking home she felt excited by the prospect of an escapade to the south, to visit her great friends - the Gnomes of the Forest and most especially of all - to spend time with her special friend Archimedes. Much as she loved the wild beauty of her home, a winter visit was a wonderful opportunity to catch up with news and relish the warmth of old friendships as they all prepared to face the changes ahead.
She was walking to the edge of the river, to her favourite place by a pool of still water. She folded a shawl on a rock to cushion her from the cold and sat still in the silence of the moonlight, staring up at the stars. Carefully she held the blue stone up to the light, it was her way of feeling what baby Harriet was up to and to send her love and guidance. 'To be so brave so young - take care, life is long and your time now is to grow and enjoy your time as a child, so much for you yet to learn when you are ready'. She turned the stone in the light and back in her cot in Persimmon Heights, baby Harriet smiled in her sleep.
Eleanora was very proud of Harriet's courage, she was also aware of the worry that she would have picked up from her parents and family to encourage her to take such an extreme course of action. To voluntary chose to befriend a human at such a young age was a sign of her wisdom and also of her lack of experience. 'I must go to visit soon' she thought 'time to stock up on Aunt Mildred's foot balm and Hortensia's wild strawberry jam'. For all of her wisdom, great learning and kindness, Eleanora was still a gnome, and all gnomes have a longing for comfortable feet and tasty treats.
Walking home she felt excited by the prospect of an escapade to the south, to visit her great friends - the Gnomes of the Forest and most especially of all - to spend time with her special friend Archimedes. Much as she loved the wild beauty of her home, a winter visit was a wonderful opportunity to catch up with news and relish the warmth of old friendships as they all prepared to face the changes ahead.
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
The Beginning of Hope.....
The Old Lady (Harold's Mother) was watching her son with suspicion. Since he had come back from his morning walk he had taken to pacing up and down the garden, shaking his head and muttering to himself. She had offered him a cup of tea and a sandwich for lunch, but he had just smiled at her and carried on walking. She knew then that something most extraordinary was happening. For it seemed an age since Harold had last smiled, she felt a flutter of hope in her heart - perhaps, just perhaps there was a way forward.
She thought it best to leave him to his thoughts and to be busy with her own plans. So putting on her glasses, she set to sorting out her seed packets and making plans for her Spring flower beds.
Feeling tired at last, Harold sat down on the bench, 'it's just not rational' he thought as he gazed up at the sky, 'but it's true I do remember something, I do remember having friends in the forest when I was younger - perhaps I am going mad after all.'
For what neither the Old Lady or the Gnomes of the Forest knew, was that Harold wasn't just on his summer holidays, he had been asked to take time off because he had been acting so strangely at work. He was very worried that he might lose his job because try as he might, he couldn't seem to care any more about his job, the company and the turnover. His mind was always drifting away - and then there had been the mistake over the year end accounting figures which he couldn't take seriously, and all in all. he felt his life was unknown prison of duty and joylessness. That was when he had had his desperate idea of selling the Forest for timber and to apply for planning permission.
'What an idiot I've been, lost my way trying to prove myself, forcing myself on and on. What am I going to do now? If I go back to the Forest tomorrow I might go mad - nobody else talks to gnomes.' Harold sat on the bench and began to gently cry - now this was no bad thing because crying was the beginning of him feeling again, and feeling again was the beginning of hope.
The Old Lady, who had been keeping an eye on him out of the window, came out and sitting down next to him asked, 'from how you are, I imagine you have met some of the Forest Gnomes? Most strange My Dear, when you first meet them - but such a delight when you get used to them. I never mentioned to you that I had made contact with them - I was frightened that you would think I'd lost my marbles!' For the second time that day Harold gazed in stunned amazement, 'you talk with them too?'
She thought it best to leave him to his thoughts and to be busy with her own plans. So putting on her glasses, she set to sorting out her seed packets and making plans for her Spring flower beds.
Feeling tired at last, Harold sat down on the bench, 'it's just not rational' he thought as he gazed up at the sky, 'but it's true I do remember something, I do remember having friends in the forest when I was younger - perhaps I am going mad after all.'
For what neither the Old Lady or the Gnomes of the Forest knew, was that Harold wasn't just on his summer holidays, he had been asked to take time off because he had been acting so strangely at work. He was very worried that he might lose his job because try as he might, he couldn't seem to care any more about his job, the company and the turnover. His mind was always drifting away - and then there had been the mistake over the year end accounting figures which he couldn't take seriously, and all in all. he felt his life was unknown prison of duty and joylessness. That was when he had had his desperate idea of selling the Forest for timber and to apply for planning permission.
'What an idiot I've been, lost my way trying to prove myself, forcing myself on and on. What am I going to do now? If I go back to the Forest tomorrow I might go mad - nobody else talks to gnomes.' Harold sat on the bench and began to gently cry - now this was no bad thing because crying was the beginning of him feeling again, and feeling again was the beginning of hope.
The Old Lady, who had been keeping an eye on him out of the window, came out and sitting down next to him asked, 'from how you are, I imagine you have met some of the Forest Gnomes? Most strange My Dear, when you first meet them - but such a delight when you get used to them. I never mentioned to you that I had made contact with them - I was frightened that you would think I'd lost my marbles!' For the second time that day Harold gazed in stunned amazement, 'you talk with them too?'
Saturday, 7 January 2012
A moment of tension and the cracking of a heart...
Well there it was - a miracle of sorts, but in the most dangerous of circumstances. Harold gazed into the violet blue of little Harriet's eyes and smiled. To most of us a smile is not such a big event, but to Harold, a human who had lost his joy and given over to bitterness, a smile was the cracking open of his heart.
Hortensia's heart was in danger of cracking too, but for very different reasons. Gnomes do occasionally allow humans to see them, confident in the knowledge that will forget or imagine that they have been dreaming, but never do they allow their precious children direct contact. Hortensia was almost consumed with anxiety and protective fervour.
She quickly climbed up onto Harold's jacket and raced to hold Harriet in her arms. Harriet though, had other ideas and true to her independent nature, she crawled into Harold's outstretched hand and held onto to his finger to steady herself, as she continued to smile back and gaze into his eyes. Later Hortensia would describe to Archibold how Harold seemed to have violet blue eyes too for a while, instead of his usual pale watery ones.
Harold let out a long breath that he had been holding in his wonderment. 'Who are you, Little One, haven't I met you before, what is your name.' Harriet gurgled and Hortensia, who was unable to bear her feelings of anxiety anymore, rushed to explain. 'Her name is Harriet and she is my daughter, she is only a baby and can't speak yet - she seems to have taken a real shine to you.' This was true because Harriet had taken to sitting upright in the palm of Harold's hand and was blowing kisses at him. This was all very embarrassing, but Harold seemed charmed and gently bringing his hand closer to his face exclaimed, 'Well Little Harriet what a brave and beautiful baby you are.' Harriet of course blinked gently at him, Hortensia began to wonder if her small daughter was going to continue with her escapade when Harriet suddenly turned around and held out her arms to be picked up by her Mother.
'We have to go now, it is time for her tea,' Hortensia paused and then gathering her courage, quickly added 'what you remember is meeting all of us before when you were a boy, we used to play with you, you even knew all of our names - you were our friend. We have been trying to remind you of the fun we used to have together so that you wouldn't destroy our homes'.
Harold gazed at Hortensia in a daze, the truth was he did sort of remember something, except he thought that he had read it in a book. His scepticism was returning, but Harriet and Hortensia continued to look directly at him and he was faced with the reality that whatever his doubts, he was having a conversation with a small and feisty being with a most beautiful baby in her arms. 'I don't know what to say or think - will I remember this, meeting Harriet and you?'
At that point, Aunt Mildred, Uncle Humperdinck and Archimedes stepped forward followed by many of the other gnomes of the forest who felt brave enough to face a human who was awake. 'If you promise a solemn promise to tell no one, we can meet again tomorrow here in this glade. There is much we would like to tell you and to discuss with you. Harriet has chosen you as a friend and trusts you, we will abide by her choice and honour you.' Archimedes stood as straight as he could and put his hand on his heart, 'will you agree to come and to tell no one?'
Hortensia's heart was in danger of cracking too, but for very different reasons. Gnomes do occasionally allow humans to see them, confident in the knowledge that will forget or imagine that they have been dreaming, but never do they allow their precious children direct contact. Hortensia was almost consumed with anxiety and protective fervour.
She quickly climbed up onto Harold's jacket and raced to hold Harriet in her arms. Harriet though, had other ideas and true to her independent nature, she crawled into Harold's outstretched hand and held onto to his finger to steady herself, as she continued to smile back and gaze into his eyes. Later Hortensia would describe to Archibold how Harold seemed to have violet blue eyes too for a while, instead of his usual pale watery ones.
Harold let out a long breath that he had been holding in his wonderment. 'Who are you, Little One, haven't I met you before, what is your name.' Harriet gurgled and Hortensia, who was unable to bear her feelings of anxiety anymore, rushed to explain. 'Her name is Harriet and she is my daughter, she is only a baby and can't speak yet - she seems to have taken a real shine to you.' This was true because Harriet had taken to sitting upright in the palm of Harold's hand and was blowing kisses at him. This was all very embarrassing, but Harold seemed charmed and gently bringing his hand closer to his face exclaimed, 'Well Little Harriet what a brave and beautiful baby you are.' Harriet of course blinked gently at him, Hortensia began to wonder if her small daughter was going to continue with her escapade when Harriet suddenly turned around and held out her arms to be picked up by her Mother.
'We have to go now, it is time for her tea,' Hortensia paused and then gathering her courage, quickly added 'what you remember is meeting all of us before when you were a boy, we used to play with you, you even knew all of our names - you were our friend. We have been trying to remind you of the fun we used to have together so that you wouldn't destroy our homes'.
Harold gazed at Hortensia in a daze, the truth was he did sort of remember something, except he thought that he had read it in a book. His scepticism was returning, but Harriet and Hortensia continued to look directly at him and he was faced with the reality that whatever his doubts, he was having a conversation with a small and feisty being with a most beautiful baby in her arms. 'I don't know what to say or think - will I remember this, meeting Harriet and you?'
At that point, Aunt Mildred, Uncle Humperdinck and Archimedes stepped forward followed by many of the other gnomes of the forest who felt brave enough to face a human who was awake. 'If you promise a solemn promise to tell no one, we can meet again tomorrow here in this glade. There is much we would like to tell you and to discuss with you. Harriet has chosen you as a friend and trusts you, we will abide by her choice and honour you.' Archimedes stood as straight as he could and put his hand on his heart, 'will you agree to come and to tell no one?'
Sunday, 18 December 2011
A snooze, a song and a little surprise......
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.
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.
Sunday, 11 December 2011
A little rest and the beginning of remembering......
Harold was sitting on the mossy bank, with his sock still in his hand and one shoe off, staring in disbelief. First of all, he was faced with the reality of several gnomes performing acrobatics right in front of his face, swinging and leaping from the tree branches and almost landing on his lap. Stephanotis had become a bit overexcited and was performing double somersaults and back flips and even tossing his hat in-between leaps. Then, as if that wasn't enough for poor Harold to take in, there was the sight and sounds of a small band of gnomes blowing and banging on their tiny drums and trumpets - well it was all too much to take in - and as you can imagine, Harold fainted clean away from the shock.
'Oh Dear, ' said Hortensia 'we have overdone it again, humans don't seem to have the same stamina for the unusual as we do, the poor boy has collapsed again.' The gnomes gathered around, Humperdinck proposed playing a soothing lullaby but was soon overruled. They all agreed to think again and leave matters for another day, after all Harold was bound to convince himself that he had been dreaming a very strange dream after hitting his head on a branch. It is a sad and well known fact that humans have a very hard time accepting the reality of gnomes living in their midst.
Indeed it is true that when Harold came to, he did think that perhaps he was suffering from concussion, but as he stroked his forehead he remembered something of the softness of a gentle touch that had soothed away some of his anxiety. Whatever it was, or however he justified his thinking, over the next few days Harold started coming to the wood and making his was to the Sacred Circle for a nap on a regular basis. Hortensia was always ready to stroke his forehead and slowly his worry lines did begin to fade and once in a while a faint smile would show that Harold was having a happy dream for the first time in many a year.
The gnomes knew that the longer Harold spent in the wood, the less appealing the idea of selling it would become. The more he remembered something that he almost forgotten - something that he longed to properly remember - something that teased him when he woke up, something that was ever edging closer each time he had a little rest in the forest - the more the possibilities for something truly extraordinary to happen would increase.
'Oh Dear, ' said Hortensia 'we have overdone it again, humans don't seem to have the same stamina for the unusual as we do, the poor boy has collapsed again.' The gnomes gathered around, Humperdinck proposed playing a soothing lullaby but was soon overruled. They all agreed to think again and leave matters for another day, after all Harold was bound to convince himself that he had been dreaming a very strange dream after hitting his head on a branch. It is a sad and well known fact that humans have a very hard time accepting the reality of gnomes living in their midst.
Indeed it is true that when Harold came to, he did think that perhaps he was suffering from concussion, but as he stroked his forehead he remembered something of the softness of a gentle touch that had soothed away some of his anxiety. Whatever it was, or however he justified his thinking, over the next few days Harold started coming to the wood and making his was to the Sacred Circle for a nap on a regular basis. Hortensia was always ready to stroke his forehead and slowly his worry lines did begin to fade and once in a while a faint smile would show that Harold was having a happy dream for the first time in many a year.
The gnomes knew that the longer Harold spent in the wood, the less appealing the idea of selling it would become. The more he remembered something that he almost forgotten - something that he longed to properly remember - something that teased him when he woke up, something that was ever edging closer each time he had a little rest in the forest - the more the possibilities for something truly extraordinary to happen would increase.
Saturday, 3 December 2011
Shortbread and a wiff of garlic...
They were all in place waiting for Harold to wake up. The thing was that Harold was having an especially wonderful dream and had no intention of waking up anytime soon. Most humans fell asleep as soon as they stumbled across or entered the Sacred Circle, and it has to be said that if a human was in a rush or not in tune with their surroundings, that they would inevitably be overcome and soon fall into a deep sleep. Gnomes have such a different sense of time - happy quick time, happy slow time, slow winter dream time - well, the list is endless and pretty unfathomable to humans. Any place where they live and frequently come together to celebrate or meet up, has an especially different air. In fact one of the ways you can find out if a place that you suspect is a gnome meeting place - really is one - is to quietly enter and see if you begin to feel a dreamy, expanded sort of peaceful doziness - the answer is very likely yes if you do!
Aunt Mildred was beginning to feel a little bored, she wasn't feeling particularly kindly towards Harold so it was easy to be bored. She had looked inside her basket and been most disappointed to find that there wasn't even a supply of mint humbugs - 'shows what a panic we were all in when that ridiculous man came stumbling into the forest - no sensible supplies to pass around and share'. Luckily Hortensia had put some of her special crumbly shortbread in Archibold's pockets that morning so they soon were feeling fortified by a bit of biscuit while they waited.
Hortensia was still stroking Harold's forehead trying to ease the worry lines, this was partially why Harold was having such a good dream, he hadn't slept this well for years and his whole body was relaxing into the moss as he gently slumbered on. The other reason that he was sleeping so deeply could have been because of the kindness that he felt all around him. Archibold and Stephanotis had had a good feel of his ankle and carefully rubbed some of Aunt Mildred's homemade liniment around the strain and the bump where he had banged his head.
Soon twilight began and the gnomes skilfully hid as Hortensia cut open and waved a piece of fresh garlic under Harold's nose. He opened his eyes and found himself thinking about how hungry he was and that he hadn't felt so well in ages - 'how amazing; he thought, 'fancy there being some blackberries on the moss right by me, most have caught on my clothes and dropped off as I fell'. He gobbled up the blackberries and started to put his sock on, his ankle felt as good as new and he was ready to get up and be on his way when he caught sight of something out of the corner of his eye and found himself staring in amazement hardly daring to breathe.
Aunt Mildred was beginning to feel a little bored, she wasn't feeling particularly kindly towards Harold so it was easy to be bored. She had looked inside her basket and been most disappointed to find that there wasn't even a supply of mint humbugs - 'shows what a panic we were all in when that ridiculous man came stumbling into the forest - no sensible supplies to pass around and share'. Luckily Hortensia had put some of her special crumbly shortbread in Archibold's pockets that morning so they soon were feeling fortified by a bit of biscuit while they waited.
Hortensia was still stroking Harold's forehead trying to ease the worry lines, this was partially why Harold was having such a good dream, he hadn't slept this well for years and his whole body was relaxing into the moss as he gently slumbered on. The other reason that he was sleeping so deeply could have been because of the kindness that he felt all around him. Archibold and Stephanotis had had a good feel of his ankle and carefully rubbed some of Aunt Mildred's homemade liniment around the strain and the bump where he had banged his head.
Soon twilight began and the gnomes skilfully hid as Hortensia cut open and waved a piece of fresh garlic under Harold's nose. He opened his eyes and found himself thinking about how hungry he was and that he hadn't felt so well in ages - 'how amazing; he thought, 'fancy there being some blackberries on the moss right by me, most have caught on my clothes and dropped off as I fell'. He gobbled up the blackberries and started to put his sock on, his ankle felt as good as new and he was ready to get up and be on his way when he caught sight of something out of the corner of his eye and found himself staring in amazement hardly daring to breathe.
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