She left the tower and walked the distance to the shore. She struck one of the matches on a tree. It lit up in an orange flame. She tossed it into the leaves. It flickered out. She lit another; the result was the same. She fingered the last match. She lit it, watched it for a moment, and carefully held to a single leaf. The leaf would not catch fire. Evadne had to toss the match in order to save herself from being burnt. The fire immediately died when it hit the ground.
Evadne frowned, feeling very frustrated. She walked into the forest, trying to figure out another plan. Soft breezes fluttered through the fluorescent green leaves and darker needles of the many trees. Evadne spotted some reddish-purple berries. She immediately picked some and put them into her mouth, not caring whether they were poison or not. They were delicious, the perfect degree of sweet and sour. She ate ravenously, realizing just how hungry she was. The juice stained her hands, leaving behind bright crimson blotches.
Evadne walked to the river, washed off her hands, then just stood, listening. She liked the soft, rushing sound it made. It was nice to hear something besides the wind, and her own breathing. Evadne waded into the water up to her thighs. Her dress fanned out and floated beside her. She closed her eyes. It felt wonderful, so fresh and cool. It felt like times with Father, dancing in the rain.
After a time, she came out again and went back to the forest. She walked to the towers and opened each one, hoping to find something—anything. They were each exact replicas of each other. Cold, grey, and bear. It was rather disconcerting. The silence, too, was nerve wrecking. There should have been some noise, something should have been moving. Things should have been living.
Evadne started for the mirrors, with no particular goal in mind. She opened the door and stood for a moment, surveying her own face.
"Why am I here?" she asked, after a minute.
"You washed up here," came the voice's simple answer.
Evadne frowned. "But—but—what's wrong with this place?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why are there no birds?!"
At that instant, a dove came flying and cooing out of a tree. A woodpecker could be heard, beating its beak into a tree. Songbirds started chirping; the isle came alive.
"What—how...?"
"There are birds," said the mirror.
"I—I see," Evadne said. "I think I'll go now." She walked back outside, feeling very confused.
A blue jay came and sat on her shoulder, twirping away at her. She frowned at it a moment, then smiled. She held up her hand, and the bird flew to her wrist. She mimicked its sounds. It seemed she had found a friend. After a while, it flew away, into some tree. Evadne was not sorry, for many other birds also came to her throughout her walk through the forest. She did not feel nearly as alone as she had.
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Evadne had spent a few days on the isle. She didn't hate it anymore, in fact, she almost liked it. But she could not stay here, all alone, forever. She walked to the mirror, determined to somehow find a way to get off the isle. It was a cool, misty evening with a rather dreamy feel to it. When she looked out into the distance, she could almost envision dancing, ghost-like figures in the mist. She stepped into the glassy room.
"Mirror, Mirror, of circled wall..." she stopped, considering what to say. "how do I get away from here?"
"Evadne, Evadne, maiden so fair," the mirror answered, "what will it take to keep you here?"
It started to rain then, softly and slowly getting harder. The drops made distinct, tinkling sounds on the mirror's floor. Evadne felt dazed. Thunder rumbled in the distance, but she hardly noticed. All she hear was the rain, magnified and playing over and over again, almost defeaning. It was like it was taking over, completely overpowering her. Memories of her father bounced around in her mind. She could see them clearly in the mirror, all around her, on every side. It was hard to see, and yet exhilarating at the same time. She fell down to the floor of the mirror. She had tears running down her cheeks. She felt something beneath her hands.
It was a thread, thin and silky, like that of a spider's. She looked around and realized that it was strung all around her, in a myriad of rainbow colors, standing out starkly against the grey surroundings. She stood up and looked at the threads. It was like there was an invisible loom in front of her. She glanced at the memories of her father, still playing in the glass. She started to weave the threads together, forming the intricate picture exactly. Of Father and daughter, holding hands, the rain pouring down.
She had no idea how long it lasted, indeed she could hardly remember it stopping, but she suddenly seemed to wake up. The sun was shining, birds were singing, and she was holding a brilliant tapestry in her hands.
"I—I think I'll stay here—at least for a while," she said, moving out of the mirror circle, planning to take the tapestry to the tower she had slept in before. The only answer was the shivering breeze.
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Evadne stood in the mirror room. She wanted something to happen, but nothing seemed to be going to. She wanted the mirror to show her something, or have her weave something.
"Was it just a one time thing, then?" she yelled at the mirror.
Suddenly the mirror lit up, with an image of some young girls, strolling through a meadow. There was a castle in the background, and they were laughing and chattering amongst themselves. Evadne stared at it. She'd never had friends like that.
"Where is it?" Evadne asked.
"They are the ladies-in-waiting at the castle Camelot."
Evadne nodded and stared wistfully at the girls. She became aware of the threads, again, hanging in front of her. She started to weave. It made her feel light and happy to weave such a whimsical picture. It was not the same feeling as before, but nonetheless enjoyable.
In time, she had another tapestry, just as lovely as before. Sunny and happy-go-lucky. She smiled, and prepared to leave.
"So—how do I know when I can do this? Is it whenever, or just...?"
A strange sound came, it rather sounded like the mirror was laughing at her. "You may weave when you wish, my lady."
Evadne frowned. She was the mirror's lady now? Well, that couldn't really be a bad thing. She smiled and started to hum to herself, as she merrily walked back to her tower.