constellations

Evabeth listens as the river ripples over the stones. She looks into the moonlit sky imagining the stories in the constellations. Margaret is an amazing storyteller. She can see why Robert talks of little else when they are together. It still feels strange having a brother and Aunt after all these years of separation.
This place is much different from what she's known in the kingdom. Never in a million years would she have considered going out after dark when she lived in the fosterage. There are so many contradictions with the things she was taught at Makatel. Seeing the children playing in the river filled her with dread the first time she saw it. Robert acted as if it were completely natural, and he'd grown up seeing the images of people suffering serious injuries from swimming in rivers and the warning signs posted near every lake and stream.
When he walked down the little path into the river, Evabeth felt a desparate need to stop him from such foolish behavior. Now four days later, she sits beside the same river because Robert told her this is a magical place. The candles do add a feeling of magic. She wonders if the feelings rushing through her are what all people are meant to feel. Without the jacket, the world looks clearer and she feels more alive.
A star shoots across the sky, lighting her imagination with a picture of a Tortoise. The stars seem to line up as if she were connecting dots on a piece of paper. A few clouds approach the Tortoise constellation rippling like blue-green waves. She listens to the river as a smile of contentment appears on her lips. This place truly is magical. Her smile feels good, it is hard to believe in the kingdom it is a facial expression discouraged and often punished.
In the distance she hears the call of an animal she's never heard. She'll have to ask Margaret what kind of animal it is. She closes her eyes and wonders what the festival will be like. It is hard quieting her mind. Evabeth breathes. She feels peaceful.