I love this little scene, it’s one of my top favorites in the whole book. Just thought I’d share it. Let me know what you think.
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Understanding
After the evening meal I sat outside the pavilion with Terren, star gazing.
“That one there,” Terren said pointing at a cluster of stars off to the right. “Is Valiant, the warrior. Those stars there make up his helmet, and three there are his hand, and the four aligning with those, make up his sword.”
“We have one that’s similar in my world,” I said. “He’s called Orion the Hunter. He has two stars for his shoulders, two for his feet, three for his belt and three for his sword.” I drew Orion in the air as I spoke.
“I would like to see that someday,” Terren commented.
“I don’t even know if I’ll see it again someday. It was my favorite constellation, though it’s only out in the winter time. I always looked forward to seeing it up there in the sky. Then I’d always be sad when it was gone again.”
“Stars can seem like close friends sometimes. My father loved the stars. He always told me they were all set in a special place by a divine hand for a season and it was up to us to discover their secrets. That one there,” Terren pointed to a group of stars that looked like a crooked ‘S’ with two sets of four stars giving it wings. “That one is called The Dragon; it was my father’s favorite.”
“It’s beautiful,” I played with my hair. “What… what do you believe about divinity Terren?” The question had been burning in my mind since we had come outside and I finally mustered up the guts to say it.
“Well, for one, there is no such thing as luck. Everything is set in motion, nothing happens by accident, He causes it all.”
“Who is ‘He’?”
Terren looked at me, “Abir, the Mighty One.”
I looked away.
“Do you know Him?” Terren asked, placing his hand over mine.
“I… I think I do, but not by that name.”
“My father told me Abir as many names.”
I nodded.
“But weren’t you… weren’t you angry at Him, when your parents were killed? I mean, why would He do that?”
“I don’t know,” Terren sighed, “Perhaps I will never know or understand until the day I stand before Him. To answer your question, yes, I was angry at Him, very angry. To the point where I was a completely different man, but He held on to me and brought me Connor. Connor helped me to understand that Abir had not abandoned me. He has been the truest of friends.”
“I still don’t understand,” I mumbled.
“Understand what?”
“What I’m doing here?! It contradicts everything Terren! Places like this are not suppose to exists where I come from. But here I am! What is He doing?!” I rung my hands in front of me. It felt so good to finally say that out load to another human being.
Terren took my hands in his, “Kate, I am not going to pretend I have an answer for you, because I don’t, but I do know that somehow you were meant to be here.”
I looked into his face, he was sincere, so sincere.
“Thank you Terren, I hope you’re right.”
He smiled, “It’s getting late, we have an early start tomorrow.” He stood and helped me to my feet. “Good night Kate, sweet dreams.”
“You too,” I said.
He pulled me into an embrace, “Hold on Kate.”
My heart swelled and tears formed in my eyes and rolled down my checks. I pulled away, hiding my tear streaked face.
“Thank you, good night.” I ran to my room, shut the door, flung myself on the bed and cried.
