Gnayleih Gnyckelwart: The Tale of the Pumpkin Gnome

CHAPTERS ONE & Two

“Gnayleih Gnycklewart will be her name!” The four Luna Faeries cried in one voice as they danced around the very beginnings of a magical hat that will soon spin the tale…

Gnayleih will eventually come to live in the tiny hollow known to some as “Bristleback Gware” - population one quarter of what it would be on those nights when the moon is full and casts its magical beams upon the hillside of a sleepy glen. There, a most particular pumpkin patch grows entwined around an ancient circle of three saracen standing stones.

Besides her two pet snails, “Gnillie and Gnockie”; Gnayleih will also boast one extremely large (and most probably overfed) beetle named Gunner, whom she will ride bareback nightly with an intricate bridle and bit made of the finest spider silversilk (a noted gift of the Luna Fae) which will mark Gnayleih as most particularly magical. But then, I digress, as this will be somewhere in her future.

Chapter Three

So, how did this spritely “little folk” come into existence?
As everygnome who is anygnome knows (…or should - as birth sets in), “Spritely” Gnomes spring forth from their own special hats. Now it is quite important that these hats be in existence and particular to the gnome in question before that gnome is created. .., as those peculiarities from the deep expanses of the hat will develop the personalities and the magical abilities within the gnome itself.

Of course there are your basic garden variety gnomes - who are birthed underground by the roots of an old oak tree and are created without their hats being imagined first.

shudder

However, we will not discuss them here.

It has been said, and therefore scratched into the Pumpkin Leaves of Gnome Lore; that the top of the gnomish hat must be able to capture as many moonbeams as possible; thus encouraging balance - which is required for riding Beetles and acquiring snails as pets. But more importantly channeling the magics necessary for growing and safeguarding a most particular pumpkin patch so that Gnomish Lore might be recorded. Thus Gnaylieh Gnycklewart’s hat was born.

Chapter Four

On the first of the fourth cycle, during a rather warm
summer’s eve the four Luna Fae appeared once again through the twinkling haze. They danced with merriment and yet a purposeful abandon, casting their wings to and fro in circular motion until Gnayleih’s hat was caught within their gaze.

As dew collects upon a spider’s web so the moonbeams began to draw themselves helplessly toward the magical hat. Slowly at first and then gaining a wild momentum; the dancing of the Fae became more and more frenetic - as did the trail of the moonbeams as they centered themselves on the tiny hat’s antenna at the topmost section and began to spread throughout the hat.

If one listens very closely and is empirically and most emphatically still (so still as to not even utter a single breath into the air) … One might be able to hear the faint song of the Fae tinkling throughout the glen.

“Appear to us, Oh Moonbeams bright,
assist us pure and true this night!
Twelve beams are needed for each Saracen Stone
Come do our bidding, that they not stand alone!
For “Gnayleigh Gnycklwart” must come to be
and guard well the pumpkins by the Standing Stones three!“

So it was that the first dozen moonbeams obeyed the spells that the Fae commanded encircling the hat at its brim. The twelve joined under its trim and turned, before too long another twelve attached themselves until three times the number of the first group were joined.

Round and round they went using all matter and moss with the glistening beams of moonlight from the vines of the enchanted gnome patch until they grew to five times their number forming the small yet plump body of what would soon become a true Gnycklewart.

Chapter Five

Ahhh but, as every gnome youngling knows -- The Gnycklewart Clan of three are indeed the most magical and quite intricate in the matter of their birth. So, the Luna Fae completing their moonlight rituals and gnonotions at the highest point near the Standing Stones, handed off the still inert body of Gnayleih as she pulsated with the shimmering moonbeams of the fading nightsky to the Bristleback Fae who sat dominion over the Gware.
These Earthbound Fae (who cannot fly but are expert beetle riders) gently cradled the diminutive gnome as they rode on beetleback through the swirling mists and foggy bottom valley which surrounds the hilltop of the Standing Stones. For it was here that they now needed to complete the task of weighting the body so that the newly created gnome would not float aimlessly up into the sky; as moonbeams are apt to do in the summer sunlight.
They summoned all manner of earth bound creatures and bade them gather berries, beans, crushed walnuts and lavender pods for the purpose of stuffing the body with magical goodness from the earth. However, they still needed something else -- something enchanted and heavy as to keep the future guardian of the pumpkin patch stalwart and steady.

The Gware Fae realized what the special enchantment must be - as it could be naught but that for magic’s sake. So they mounted their beetles with the now weighted little gnome in tow out of the valley of mists and fog and up up up to the hill top of the Standing Stones Three. It was there that they found what was needed to complete the body and cause the charms to commence the final enchantment. - The Gware Fae searched the ground in and around the stones until they discovered their magical treasure. Their quest lay plainly in the morning dawn as the mists cleared, for there were three shining saracen stone pebbles - one from each of the mother stones.
“Brilliant! These will do!” announced Gyre (obviously, the leader of the Gware Fae) and promptly placed the shimmering pebbles into Gnayleigh and sewing them shut with a true tailor’s gknowhow, Gyre cocked his capped head to one side as he placed the nearly finished Gnyclewart on the stump of an old maple tree, stepped back and said, “Only a few things left to do …. gnow let us see how to make her breathe…”

Chapter 6

“I will help!” yelled a piercing voice as the sunrise began. The three Gware Fae turned toward the trees at the edge of the clearing …at the base of the hill. A small little Tuttlegware twaddled out behind the still glowing mushferns still damp with dew.

“Why, if my eyes do not deceive me!!” cried The Gware Fae Gyre, “Can it be? It is Meister Sgnoggengware!”

“’Tis I and no other” The Tuttlegware said… and with the speed of the dawn itself, he spun a beautiful breathengware made of wormseidal burlap and tomatolace. This was indeed a gnose that would know its place. A gnose to hold up such an enchanted gnomeish hat. A gnose to help guard the sacred pumpkin leaves of the particular pumpkin patch of Bristleback Gware where the Saracen Stones stood on the hilltop.

and by using the magical vines of the particular pumpkin patch to attach the breathengware, Gnaylieh began to breathe

Chapter 7

Gnaylieh took a deep breath in through her now brightly glowing orange breathengware (or “gnose” for those who have no magic).
However… there always is a however , isn’t there?

As the morning air and Gware Fae dust filled her nostrils she felt a slight tickling sensation directly behind the breathengware underneath her new hat. She at once breathed in three short puffs trying extremely hard not to sneeze; for she thought that it would be particularly rude to the fae surrounding her and especially impolite to the tiny Tuttlegware who was still standing on top of her breathengware… But she just could not help herself!

“AHHHhhhhhhhhh - Chooooooooo!” Gnaylieh sneezed as out popped a glistening white mitten.

This, with such a force that the poor little Tuttlegware fell forward but in the last second was able to grab on to the very tip of the bright cherry tomato like protuberance and caught the mitten on the back of his emerald shell.

“No worries! Hahahaa! No worries!” he said matter-of-factly.
“There should be one more coming, Gnayliegh. Let it out! There’s a good Gnome” he cried in his loudest voice.

“GNOAAAHHHhhhhhhhh - Chooooooooooooooo!”

This one was much louder and longer than the first and had such a great burst of energy and wind that the three Gware Fae, the beetlesteeds they were riding, along with the magical Tuttlegware: Meister Sgnoggengware, were hurtled along through the ivy, violets and wild strawberries which dotted the hillside.

“…and there it is!, laughed the diminutive Tuttlegware.

“OHhhhhhhh! I am so very sorry! I would pick you up in my Grabbengwares but I seem to be lacking a set of arms to put them on!” she exclaimed.

Gnayleigh Gnynicklewart was at first so very embarassed …. but then again something began to itch and tickle her beneath her hat.

“…wait for it…..” Sgnoggengware whispered rather triumphantly to the three Gware Fae.

It seems that the tickling and itching behind her breathengware was due to the two small pumpkin vines that the Tuttlegware Meister had used to hold it in place. And from the two colossal sneezes which started the whole affair began to knowingly take on a life of their own. They burst through on either side of Gnayleih’s body and formed the most beautifully slender arms.
And with a snap of his fingers, the shimmering white mittens or Grabbengwares which is their magical name sang through the dappled morning light and air, appearing at the ends of her arms as though they had always been there.

“Thank you, Meister Sgnoggengware! Am I ready?” she asked.

“Not quite --- there is one more thing” he said with a firm twinkle in his eye.

Chapter Eight

Grabbengwares are magical - especially if they are created by a Tuttlegware, for they most assuredly utilize the gossamer spidersilk which is indigenous to the area of the BristleBack Gware.

“The trick to creating thummens is to make sure that they are opposable…after all two left thummens would be quite useless indeed”, Meister Sgnoggengware mused. “Two right thummens would be far worse, I fear, for they would be as useless as a mugenwoggle, I should think.”

The tiny Tuttlegware sighed, “There is one more thing that I must do for you, Gnayleih, before you will become a true Gnycklewart…”

“Gware Gyre!” The Meister cried. I require your aid. Bring me to the poolside lair of the anachrider. Only her spidersilk will do for my needs.“

“At once, Meister Sgnoggengware!” came the call.

And so the Meister was carried on the back of the Beetlesteed belonging to the Gware Fae Gyre. Down Down Down they rode until they came to the shimmering pool of light. Once there, The Meister directed Grye to deposit him on the soft group of lily pads in the center of the pond. The diminutive wizard for indeed - that is exactly who he was raised himself up into the air and began to spin. Round and round he moved with such velocity, he was naught but a blur.
The rest was as easy as the snap of a thummen, for the pool began move and swirl as though the whispers of the winds played and gathered the silvery threads of the shimmering anachrider spidersilk. Clouds instantly gather overhead and a sweet summer storm broke quenching the land with its sparkling raindrops. When it was done as the sunlight’s rays caught the cap of the Meister he was lowered back down to the lilypad with a most delicately intricate gossamer beardengware. A magical item which would make Gnayleih a true Gnycklewart at last.

The Meister and the Gware Fae hurried back to the Particular Pumpkin Patch on the hill with all speed. There they found Gnayleih waiting. What a surprise it was - The beardengware fit her perfectly. The tiny Tuttlegware raised his wand and with a flick of his wrist afixed the gossamer magic under her gnose. The magic filled her through and through and at once she new that her position as First Gnyckelwart had begun.

Epilogue

And so it was gknown both far and wide as well as both in and out that Gnayleih, Gnyckelwart the First
had arrived as the new Guardian of the very particular Pumpkin Patch . As she took up her position a position which would span at least one thousand and three years; There were already a few royal pumpkins which would need the utmost love and particular care so that they would glow bright orange in the coming moonlight. The leaves were large, lush and full. She was delighted to see that some were already inscribed with the gnome lore of yesteryear. So Gnayleigh settled down to begin her own inscribing on each and every available leaf.

As moonrise and sundowns appeared across the sky marking the passage from summer into autumn, The little Gynyckelwart had come to realize just how lonely her occupation was destined to be with no one to talk to. She sighed a heavy sigh just as a depression began to seep into her hat like clouds forming in the evening sky …she felt a feathery whisper in her ear.

“Did you think we would not return?”

“Did you think we would forget?”

The mellifluous voice floated through the air encircling the very tip of the sensitive gcurlicue of Gnayleih’s hat.
What a joyous feeling she was flooded with when she saw the Luna Faeires appear from behind the clouds.

“We are come as well!” The Gware Fae cried as one.

Gyre, Lord of the Gware Fae rode forward on his mighty beetlesteed, “We could could not leave you without presenting a special gift. One that will keep you whole and be a friend to you for a thousand years.”
As Grye dismounted and moved closer - Gynayleih noticed a moving bundle which he carried under his arm.
It was her very own orange and black favorite colors of Gnycklewarts everywhere beetlesteed!

“He is still but a babe, yet let him feed on the spent pumpkin flowers as they fall to the ground and he will be sure to grow into the majestic beetlesteed that he was meant to be.” he said.

“I am truly grateful. I will call him Gunner”, she said.

With that, The four Luna Fae flitted towards her on shimmering wings:

“We bring you light;
we bring you joy!
We bring two snailengware
one girl - one boy.
Gnillie and Gnockie
Their names shall be known
Keep them near you
until they are grown.”

With a nod and a turn, all faerie and fae disappeared in a poof.

But Gnayleigh was no longer sad.

“I have a fine family now, I will be quite content.” she thought happily as the two baby snailengware slipped in and out of her pouch leaving a silvery trail as they went to and fro.
Even Gunner snuggled close well, as close as a growing beetlesteed can get and still keep his mandibles from catching as she fed him a spent pumpkin flower.

She surveyed her particular patch on the side of the hill by the Standing Stones Three with particular satisfaction until she spied a lush green pumpkin leaf which still had no gnomish lore writings on it. So Gnayleih picked up her gwhoopbirden quill, and with a true Gnycklewart flourish of which I can personally tell you only these Gnuardians possess began to inscribe the day’s writings for she finally understood that all was right within her world.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Finis~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~