The inside was mirror as well. The top was open, so she could see the blue sky and the tops of the trees. The floor was a mirror, though a bit dirty and full of leaves. And the sides were all mirrors. She could faintly make out where each pane stopped and the next began, but it almost looked like it was just a circular mirror. Evadne could not think of any use for the place, besides getting a view of yourself from every angle.
After observing the place a moment longer, Evadne could find nothing else very remarkable about it. True, it was a very strange structure, but there really seemed no use for it. She went through the door and out into the woods again.
Evadne wandered about rather aimlessly, exploring the shadowy wood. She had no idea where she was going, but she didn't really mind. The most unsettling thing, though, was the silence. There was no birds, no animals of any sort, it seemed. It was unnatural. And the air, it was thick with magic. She could feel it, almost, taste it, smell it. The whole isle seemed enchanted somehow.
She heard a twig crack under the foot of something, something alive. She peered out from behind the thick tree she was by, and was shocked to see Lady Addelin. What in the world is she doing here?, Addelin thought. The woman seemed to know exactly where she was doing, and didn't even cast a glance in Evadne's direction.
Evadne took off her shoes, in order to be quieter and started to follow her step-mother through the forest. They walked quickly, and straight to the mirror circle. Lady Addelin went inside; Evadne stayed out, but close enough to hear what was going on.
Lady Addelin's voice came loud and clear, "Mirror, Mirror, of circled wall, who is the fairest of them all?"
The answer came in a whispered voice, sweet and terrible all at once, "It is she, fair of hair, and blue of eyes, who speaks in tongues of river and rain. The Lady Evadne."
Evadne had not heard herself called a Lady in a very long time, much less the fairest of them all. And the tongues of river and water? Surely, it could not speak of her.
Lady Addelin's voice came smugly in reply, "She cannot be, for she is dead."
"No," the voice said firmly.
"What do you mean? She's dead, I had her killed myself."
"In a boat that drifts downriver, washing up and waking thither."
"I see," Lady Addelin said coldly. The lady came out then and proceeded to leave. Evadne followed her to the shore, it was on a different side then the one she had washed up on, or she would have found her boat.
Lady Addelin had her own boat, it was bigger and more steady looking than Evadne's. She had oars, too. Evadne watched her paddle away, feeling quite alone and apart from the rest of the world.
Evadne stood on the shore for a long time, staring out at the water, and considering taking her boat and leaving. She knew it would be futile, though, she didn't even know where she was. The river was bound to have currents, as well; she could not navigate without an oar.
The sun began to sink, setting the sky ablaze with colors. It was golden, and rose colored, with a bit of violet and sapphire mixed in as well. It was beautiful, but it also reminded Evadne that she needed to get somewhere for the night. She'd go back to one of the towers, and sleep there, though the thought nearly made her shudder. It had to be better than nothing.
She didn't know her way very well yet, and came to the mirror before reaching a tower. It was getting dusk then, and a few stars had started to appear in the heavens. She looked at the mirror, considering. She opened the door and went inside. It was quiet, not a sound.
Shadowy reflections of reflections could be seen in the glass. When she looked closely, it almost looked like the glass was cracked. She put her hand to it. It was something like spiderwebs, dropped with dew, covering the entire mirror. It seemed to only magnify the reflections.
Evadne bit her lip, then started softly, "Mirror, Mirror, of circled wall...where am I?"
"Shalott," came the whispered reply.
"Shalott. And where is that?"
"Downriver of Avalon and Camelot."
Evadne nodded slightly. "Well...thank you."
She left then, and hurried back to one of the four towers. She had found talking to the mirror a most unsettling—and rather disturbing experience.