0:00:09 > 0:00:15Here they come, my two intrepid explorers, Charlotte and Elliot.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18I'm their Great-Aunt Lizzie, you see,
0:00:18 > 0:00:22and I wonder which one is coming to see me today.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25Ah, so it's Elliot's turn.
0:00:25 > 0:00:26Here he come,
0:00:26 > 0:00:30racing to hear another tale from an epic adventurer.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47And what wonderful adventures they were.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51So long ago and so far away.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57I collected a few souvenirs along the way.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04But my most precious possession of all
0:01:04 > 0:01:08is my extraordinary collection of teacups.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26You've still got your coat on, Elliot.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30Come on, no time to count the clouds. We've got stories to tell.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33Now...
0:01:33 > 0:01:35Let's have a lovely cup of tea.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40But first, we need...
0:01:40 > 0:01:42The teacup.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47But which one?
0:02:00 > 0:02:01- That one.- Oh.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07The Little Thimble.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09What a choice, Elliot.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11I do really love that story.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22This will be just perfect to drink, now.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30So, are you ready?
0:02:30 > 0:02:31Ready.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34Then let me tell you the story
0:02:34 > 0:02:38of Great-Aunt Lizzie And The Adventure Of The Brass Thimble.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40ELLIOT CLEARS HIS THROAT
0:02:40 > 0:02:44Oh, yes, of course. Let me tell you the story of Elliot...
0:02:44 > 0:02:45ELLIOT GIGGLES
0:02:45 > 0:02:49..And The Adventure Of The Brass Thimble.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53It all began long, long ago, in ancient Britain,
0:02:53 > 0:02:58an island of green forests, majestic mountains, silver rivers
0:02:58 > 0:03:00and tiny villages.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27It was a cool, early autumn day in a fertile glen,
0:03:27 > 0:03:32where a shepherd's track twisted and turned beneath a mountain.
0:03:32 > 0:03:37Elliot was deep in the woods when he heard the sound of two voices.
0:03:39 > 0:03:40As he moved closer,
0:03:40 > 0:03:44he could see a fierce warrior queen with her seamstress,
0:03:44 > 0:03:47making the finishing touches to her battle dress.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52- There you go, Your Majesty.- Thank you, Agnes. Now, time for some fun.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56Hah!
0:03:58 > 0:04:02I will use these moves in battle and many more.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06- Your Majesty... - Yes?- That was very good.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10But, remember, stillness is as important as speed -
0:04:10 > 0:04:13that was your mother's greatest quality.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16Aye, she always said her seamstress was a wiser general
0:04:16 > 0:04:18than any in the army.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20Speed however, is essential.
0:04:20 > 0:04:25We were together a lot and her battle dress had to be just perfect.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27Now, how do you feel?
0:04:27 > 0:04:29Perfect.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32Can you stretch out behind?
0:04:32 > 0:04:33- Ha! - DRESS TEARS
0:04:33 > 0:04:35- I think it's come loose.- Oh, no.
0:04:35 > 0:04:40- I knew I should have double-stitched it.- Have you got your sewing kit?
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Yes, Your Majesty.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45But, I don't have my thimble. Oh...
0:04:45 > 0:04:47Let me see what I can do.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56As Elliot watched warrior queen Bridget strike and block
0:04:56 > 0:05:00- an invisible enemy...- If I could just get this move right...
0:05:00 > 0:05:03..poor Agnes scrabbled about trying to sew.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10- Have you not finished yet? - Nearly, Your Majesty.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14And that was when Elliot made a mistake.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16- Excuse me.- Stop!
0:05:16 > 0:05:20- Friend or foe?- Friend! Friend, definitely, friend.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24Well, I need to be careful.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28I was only going to say, that if you stand still for a short while,
0:05:28 > 0:05:30it'll be finished sooner.
0:05:32 > 0:05:33OK, I'll try.
0:05:35 > 0:05:40Warrior Queen Bridget stood still as a rock for what felt like hours.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44Make sure you repair it well, Agnes, but make it quick.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Time is moving faster than a Viking's raiding party.
0:05:47 > 0:05:48Yes, Your Majesty.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52- Agnes sewed as fast as she could, but leather is tough.- Ow.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55- Even with the Queen still as a statue...- Ouch!
0:05:55 > 0:05:58..she hurt her finger every time she tried to push the needle
0:05:58 > 0:06:02- through the thick leather.- Ow. - This isn't working, is it?
0:06:02 > 0:06:04I'll go and practice my sword moves.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08- You rest your fingers until I return.- Yes, Your Majesty.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12The very moment Queen Bridget was gone, Elliot stepped in to help.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16You keep hurting yourself with that needle. It looks really sore.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19The leather has to be tough enough to protect my queen -
0:06:19 > 0:06:22tougher than my fingers.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25- What I need is a thimble. - What's a thimble?
0:06:25 > 0:06:28It's a small, metal cover for your fingers.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32It's a lot easier to sew leather if you've got a metal fingertip.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36I have a special one of my own, but I forgot to bring it.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39- I never thought sewing would be so hard.- Try this.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48It's really hard. It won't budge.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50And so much easier
0:06:50 > 0:06:53if you had a thimble to push it through the leather.
0:06:53 > 0:06:54It's hopeless.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57- I really need my thimble. - Why don't you go and get one?
0:06:57 > 0:07:00I have to wait here in case she returns.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03I'll go to the village and get you one. Won't be long.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07Elliot thought that getting a thimble would be as easy as pie,
0:07:07 > 0:07:11but of course, it was never going to be as easy as that.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14- Wait, please, wait. - What's the matter?
0:07:14 > 0:07:18You'll never find a thimble the right size in the village.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22I had mine specially made because my fingers are really small.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26- Where do you live?- Miles away, on the other side of the mountains.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28It's really hard to get to.
0:07:28 > 0:07:33It was still afternoon and already it had got so complicated.
0:07:33 > 0:07:34- Excuse me.- Stop!
0:07:34 > 0:07:38Elliot had persuaded the Queen that he was a friend.
0:07:38 > 0:07:43He had helped Agnes by trying to get the Queen to stand still.
0:07:43 > 0:07:48He'd learned that stitching leather was a lot harder than it looked.
0:07:48 > 0:07:49It's really hard.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53And he'd thought getting a new thimble would be a doddle.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57He couldn't leave Agnes without a thimble, could he?
0:07:57 > 0:08:01There was nothing else for it, but to set off to Agnes' village
0:08:01 > 0:08:03to get the special thimble.
0:08:09 > 0:08:14So, off went Elliot in his old, battered boots.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18He scrambled across the ancient Highlands until...
0:08:18 > 0:08:23when he was almost out of breath, the path ran out.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31EAGLE CRIES
0:08:31 > 0:08:34There was only one way to get to the other side.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44Elliot took a deep breath.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02Safely across, Elliot set off once more,
0:09:02 > 0:09:06until in the golden rays of the afternoon, he found a small village.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13But there was no time to admire the view,
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Elliot had to get that thimble.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Elliot wound his way through the little huts
0:09:19 > 0:09:21until he came to Agnes' house.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25Hello, I'm very sorry to bother you, but Agnes sent me.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29She's been given an important job to finish the Queen's battle dress.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32Oh, she's wonderful at sewing, is our Agnes.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36She doesn't have her special thimble, she keeps pricking her finger.
0:09:36 > 0:09:41Oh, she didn't take it? I'll go and check.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43I'll check outside.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53Elliot looked everywhere, but the thimble was nowhere to be found.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56I don't think it's out here.
0:09:56 > 0:09:57It's not there.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00I bet it was those wee rascals.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02The children like to play Hunt The Thimble.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05One of them hides it and the rest try and find it.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09- They must have taken it whilst I was asleep.- And hid it?- Or lost it.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13They know they're supposed to put it back when it's finished.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15- HE SIGHS - Where do we even begin?
0:10:15 > 0:10:18But as Hamish scratched an itch on his nose,
0:10:18 > 0:10:24- what did Elliot see on Hamish's little finger?- The thimble!- Oh!
0:10:24 > 0:10:28Oh, those wee terrors! You're a sharp-eyed boy -
0:10:28 > 0:10:30no wonder Agnes sent you.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32As Hamish passed the thimble to Elliot,
0:10:32 > 0:10:35he was surprised how small it was.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39He couldn't believe this little thimble would help a queen prepare
0:10:39 > 0:10:42for battle against the mighty Viking army.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44He put it carefully in his pocket.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47- Thank you for your help. - Oh, it's a pleasure.
0:10:47 > 0:10:52- And tell Agnes I hope she finishes the battle dress in time.- I will.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00Back came Elliot in his old, battered boots,
0:11:00 > 0:11:03across the ancient Highlands and down the mountainside.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09It felt like a very long journey indeed,
0:11:09 > 0:11:14when Elliot made it back to Warrior Queen Bridget and Agnes.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18- You've returned. - I've got the thimble.
0:11:18 > 0:11:19Thank you.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27- Did you see any Vikings on your travels?- No.
0:11:27 > 0:11:32Oh, good. They're moving closer and we need to be ready.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35I'll finish this in no time now I have the thimble.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37And I'm bound to win this battle
0:11:37 > 0:11:40with such finely-made battle clothes.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43It has to be strong enough to protect Your Majesty,
0:11:43 > 0:11:45but fine enough to be able to move.
0:11:45 > 0:11:50- There, I've finished. - Oh, it's perfect. Thank you.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53- And thank you for bringing the thimble.- That's OK.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56And I'm now ready to face the Viking army.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02And that was that, the whole kit and caboodle.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Elliot And The Adventure Of The Brass Thimble.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08- It was really small, but very important.- Yes.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12A little thimble was all that was needed to protect Agnes' finger
0:12:12 > 0:12:14and to help protect a queen.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18- It's difficult making clothes.- When you have to make everything by hand,
0:12:18 > 0:12:22your fingers need a little help to keep them going.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26My goodness, time does fly when you're having fun. Come on.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30Your mum'll be here in a minute.
0:12:30 > 0:12:31Your coat.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46Now, how did that get there?
0:12:48 > 0:12:49Home time now, Elliot.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01Thanks, Great-Aunt Lizzie.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03Cheery-bye, Elliot.