Chapter 1 'Gus'

'The Way of Gnome'
Book 1 of The Tales of Limindoor Woods by Sieglinde de Francesca,
published 2015


Limindoor Woods, as you will soon learn, has long been a haven to a number of gnomes who have found refuge there from the ever encroaching outside world of humans, or Tall Ones.

In these chapters you will encounter a whole donsy of gnomes and learn about how they came to Limindoor. You will also meet Gus, a young human, or Tall One, and read of his adventures with his gnome friends and the animals in and around the enchanted forest.

"The world of gnome is ephemeral. You must cross a threshold to enter there. That threshold is barely more than an opening in the mist.

You are most likely to find the way there when you are out among the wonders of nature, particularly in an old, old forest.

It is best to arrive there early in the morning, early when there are still wisps of mist caught in the ferns; when crystal droplets of dew, strung on spider silk, catch the sunlight and sparkle; when there is but one distant birdsong greeting the day.

Find an old tree, one with gnarly roots hiding little cave-like places. Sit down low, on some moss, if you can find it or a place were fern fronds bow over your shoulder, or by the edge of a small trickling stream. Sit, be silent, be still, and imagine.

Imagine that you are but a hand span high. Imagine when looking at the base of a tree that the opening you see under the roots there is your front door. What would you see first, when you came outside, blinking in the morning light? What would you do first? Would you sit quietly on that fallen branch there, as the early sun warms the wool of your vest? Would you comb the dried leaves out of your long bushy beard with your short fingers? Would you pull your pointed cap down over your ears before you stand, pick up a twig walking stick, and make your way into the day, maybe taking that little path, there under the ferns? Just imagine it. You will find that anything is possible."