⋆ s t a r g a z e r ⋆

The Forester watched the woman with interest. It seemed like she was perfectly fine with continuing to go on and on despite what he said. He imagined that he could spend the whole evening simply standing there and she would never run out of things to say. In fact, he believed he could simply walk away and she would continue to talk, not noticing the absence until much later into the evening. Of course, he doubted it would come to that. After all, he would not leave her in the middle of the woods at night. Despite how well she believed to know them. “Sometimes life is better off with a little mystery.” He was not one to go digging for information unless it directly effected him. And even then, it was rare that he would do much more than change his habits to accommodate the change. 

Uriel finished setting up the telescope and turned back to Noah, a little confused about how to respond. “There still is so much mystery to the stars. Being able to see closer into a world we have no idea about does not put a damper on the mystery behind it all. I don’t believe everything is better off as a mystery. It’s good to explore things!” she smiled. “For instance I’m sure you pay close attention to the forest here. I doubt you ignore parts of the forest because you want it to remain a mystery. Why should I with the stars? You study the forest, you watch it. That doesn’t mean there aren’t mysteries still hidden in the cracks here. But, that’s what I want to be! Like you! A Forester. But for the stars! I want to watch them and study them, learn from what they can tell me. Protect the idea that anyone can study them.” she said, getting more into it with each word. Until she realized what she was saying and she snapped out of it. “Forgive me.” she said quickly. “I know that must seem absurd coming from me.” she said.

Noah had no problem with what she called her ‘boldness’. He had spent his days in the presence of many such woman. Elysa, who would tell him exactly what she thought without holding anything back. Antonia, who would often surprise him with the lengths she went to. Since he really had no other plans besides surveying the forest, and he could do that from here, at least for a while, he decided to stay. “I have not. Why would I need such a thing when I can witness their beauty without one.”

While her father was much more open minded than most men in his position were he still had his qualms with Uriel from time to time. The main one being the “bold” things she might say. She tried to be as honest as she could be with people and speak her mind like she saw so many people do. However that was not the lady like thing to do. It seemed no matter how many times her father scolded her about it she continued to do it. “They are very beautiful by themselves, I am not doubting that. But there is something so interesting seeing them through a telescope. You can see so much more than you might have thought. There is so much more out there! You will have to try it.” she said, staring to set it up. “Hopefully we can spot something new tonight.”

Noah stopped in his motion to leave, giving her a curious look. “You want me to stay?” He hesitated for a moment before slowly moving back over to her. It was strange, most people that he met in the forest were more than happy to see him leave. Why was she so happy with seeing him stay? “Noah.” He offered his name with nothing else, stopping a few feet away from her and looking at the pile of things she brought with her, as if wondering what he should do or how he should help with the mess. 

Uriel was glad the man at least stopped to hear her out, even if he might not stay. “Yes! I would.” she said quickly. “It’s a beautiful night out and it would be a shame to look at such nice stars alone. Unless you have other plans you are needing to attend to, if I can be so bold to say” she smiled at him. There was some surprise when it seemed like he was actually considering staying, and even more he gave her his name. “Noah. Well, it is lovely to meet you Noah.” Walking over to where her stuff was gathered, she began to set everything up. “Have you ever seen the stars through a telescope before, Noah?” she said, happy she was able to use his name.

Patricia laughed a little, watching the girl run around so excitedly. She was never one for fiction, she preferred to read about theory and current events but maybe a good story would do her well. “Thank you,” she said as she took the books. “I will read them. Is there something you are looking for?” 

“You’re welcome.” she smiled. “It isn’t often there is a lot of other people in here, especially during court. Seems like this is the ‘unfashionable’ place to spend time in when that is happening.” Uriel said with a laugh. “Well I’m not sure right now. If I’m being honest I’m trying to get into the University so I’ve been looking for anything I can get my hands on to help me.”

Tasmin’s eyes scanned the items the woman had brought with her recognising all of them but was uncertain if she should point that out. It was doubtful that a common woman living in the woods would recognise a telescope or know its purpose. “What kind of studying requires all that?” Of course, her biggest concern was that if the woman ha access yo such tools, then she was probably from the palace. If Tasmin had a veil or any piece of cloth to conceal herself and step closer then she was certain she’d be able to recognise the young lady. “Are you from the palace? Because then you’re not only a little away from home.”

Uriel looked back at her mess of items she brought with her. It seemed like an excess of things but there was use for them all. Normally she would have them at her disposal at the University, or at the very least have someone else with her. But she was by herself in all of this but she would make it through. “It’s for astronomy. The University is being.....stubborn to say the least. They don’t think I am capable of being there. So I am going to prove them wrong.” she said giving a proud smile. The woman seemed a little skittish, so Uriel was not going to try to press her luck just then. “The palace? No, no I don’t live there. I mean one might think my father does on account of how much time he spends there.” she laughed.

Noah knew the clearing she was talking about. In fact, it was the clearing he had many fond memories at. From his childhood days of running through it, to his present days of brining Antonia there to dance under the stars, or when Enzo decided to lose his bucket down that very river. All important, all special. He frowned a bit. Why did she want to go to his spot? He started in the direction of the clearing, lugging her stuff along with him. At her introduction he gave a small nod that he had heard her, but nothing else. Once they were at the clearing, he deposited her things in a pile by the edge. “Don’t get lost.”

It felt odd to continue their walk in silence but this man seemed more like the silent type than anything else. It just meant she would get to listen to the sounds of the forest on their walk. The chirping of the insects or the occasional call of an owl. There was a sense of calm in the forest that the city could not give. Another reason why the forest was such a special place. Even if the walk was silent she had expected for the man to at least give her his own name. However he simply deposited her things and turned to leave. “Wait!” she said quickly. “You haven’t even given me your name yet. You don’t have to leave so soon! You could stay if you would like.”

Aurora wasn’t completely sure what she was doing out this late when she needn’t be. She had always been more of a morning person, still she found herself headed for the trees, wanting to see the stars. Perhaps it was her hope to feel more conntected to Alexander at the moment. He had always spoke to her about staying up some night and seeing the stars. Although she wasn’t with him tonight, she wanted to see them, try to discern why they were so important to him. She wasn’t even sure where the best place to look was, and just as she was about to go farther into the trees she heard someone calling. Turning around she smiled as she saw a familiar face, heading back to help her. “Hello Uriel.” She smiled as she picked up a few of the things that were sitting on the ground. “What are you doing with all of this stuff?” She asked with a laugh. 

Uriel was glad to see a familiar face in the dark woods. Often it seemed that she would run into strangers in places like this. Not that she minded strangers, it was just nice to see another face she knew. Looking down at her stuff she felt a tad bit embarrassed with the mess she had with her. If someone from the university saw her they might think she was a joke. But that was the opposite of what she was trying to be, she wanted to prove she was serious about her studies. And that she was just as good as any man. “I’m...well I’m studying. The university still wont budge on anything. So I have to do my own studying of the stars for now.” she smiled. “What about you? What are you doing out in the woods?”

Noah sighed as he looked over at her, fighting the urge to leave her there with all her things. If he just did that it would most likely mean him coming back to a mess the next morning, or a trail of supplies leading to a very lost young woman. And that’s exactly what he assumed would happen. She looked like someone that would get lost in the woods at night after trying to look at the stars. “I will help you carry this. Do you know where you are going?” His offer was less of a suggestion and more of a insistence, leaving no room for argument as he waited for her response. 

Uriel wasn’t going to complain to some company. She could never pass up the opportunity to get to talk to someone new, even if this man didn’t seem like he was for the idea. But there must have been some reason for him to stay since he phrased his offer as more of a statement of what was happening. “Yes to the clearing near the river. There are less trees there and it should be a good spot to study the moon.” she said pulling out the map of the stars, looking it over for a minute. “Yes, that should be good. Thank you for helping me.” she said genuinely. “It will be nice t have someone to walk with. I’m Uriel Beaumont by the way.”

Alexander was sitting down on the forest floor, staring up at the stars. He found so much comfort in doing this, that he did it upon hours and hours without him noticing. Sometimes he would just fall asleep under the stars, not wanting to leave his tranquility. There wasn’t anything out in the forest to be afraid of and no one bothered him while he was out here. It was peace that he found and held dearly to his heart. Tonight, it was about an hour after the sun set that he gazed upon the stars before hearing a voice. He looked over, seeing a girl with stuff going all over the place. He pursed his lips before getting up and heading over. “Uriel?” He said, as he saw her more up close. He jogged over and helped her. “Wow, how did you managed to carry all of these this far into the forest?”

Uriel wouldn’t lie in saying how excited she was when she realized she had run into Alexander in the woods. This made the night a hundred times better, especially if she could get him to come look at the stars with her. Which knowing Alex, wouldn’t take too much convincing. “Well it took a lot of work and a lot of balancing. But I have been dropping and picking things up the whole walk out here.” she laughed. “I wasn’t sure what to bring and I didn’t want to leave anything behind I might need. It isn’t really an easy walk back to my house.” she smiled. “What about you? What are you doing out here?” she asked.

Uriel had not expected to see anyone else in the woods this time at night. Certainly not another lady since it seemed “unrefined” for a woman to be out this time at night. Which Uriel found ridiculous if she was being honest. Everyone enjoyed an evening stroll or a night under the stars, didn’t have to just be a man’s thing. Uriel tried her best to make out the face of the woman in front of her but it was too dark to see anything clear. She could only catch a vague glimpse of her face, but she didn’t need to see properly to talk. “Only a little. I couldn’t do much of my studying from home with the light. I needed open space and an open sky.” she said. “You seem to be as well, out for a walk?” she asked, unaware of who she was talking to.

“Men who think they’re too good for you are a nuisance in general,” Freya replied, casting the door one more dirty look before turning her back on it. “If they won’t take you, why not go to someone who has benefited from study at a university? I’m sure someone would be willing to tutor you.”

“Most of the time I don’t bother with men like that but there is no one else to talk to about these things. They are the university and they decide who to let in and who they want out.” she sighed. “I could but then I won’t be legitimate. I want a real job and real respect. My father is an astronomer but he couldn’t be bothered to teach me. The real respectable ones are behind that door.”

“Something… interesting I suppose. Something that is new.” She said and smiled a little, this girl seemed eager, perhaps she could serve as someone to talk to for Patricia. Someone to really have a conversation with.”

“Something interesting....and new!” Uriel said to herself as she looked over the shelves. “Oh! This one is wonderful about a far away castle and knights.” she said pulling down one book before running off to get another. “This one has a wonderful romance in it but it still is riveting.” she told her. Grabbing the ladder she pulled down a few more options. “This one is new and has a wonderful adventure story to it. Very thrilling. Makes you almost want to get on a ship and set sail.” she laughed.

Noah was still reeling from the sudden influx of memories. No. They couldn’t have been memories. He didn’t know this woman nor did he ever remember meeting her. And yet… He knew what he had seen was real. So very real. He made his way through the woods, the bow and arrows slung over his shoulder and his eyes on the trees in front of him. As he made his way to a clearing, he spotted a woman, a woman carrying much too much. She looked slightly familiar, but he couldn’t place her. Making his way over, he furrowed his brow, reaching down to collect a few books that had fallen. “You’re making a mess.”

Uriel watched the man walking over to her and for a moment she felt like she knew who he was. At least he seemed familiar but she could not place his name. His face was clear in her mind but oddly it wasn’t attached to anything. Maybe she had seen him in the town. She felt comfortable enough that the bow and arrow he had across his shoulders didn’t strike any nerves in her. Nor meeting a strange man in the woods at night. She quickly tried to gather all her things up before he got there but he still had to help her. “Oh, well I’m not trying to.” she smiled. “I wasn’t sure what I was going to need and I didn’t want to run back to my house in the middle of the night. So I figured I would bring everything.”

“What sort of book are you looking for?” Uriel asked her. “I’m afraid I spend far too much time in here maybe I can help you find what you are looking for?”

“It is not as bad as I make it seem. My mother makes it better. And it gives me an opportunity to see my sister and father. But I can’t imagine staying there as long as they do.” He stretched slightly, petting the pup in his lap and looking over at her. “I can understand that.” It wasn’t that Zagreus didn’t like the Underworld exactly, he simply felt as thought it was a small enclosure he couldn’t escape from. Even as a child his mother would bring him to the land of the living for breaks from the darkness. 

The Underworld was a mystery to her. She had only gotten to go there once before. Most of the time any place that seemed dangerous her father didn’t seem too pleased for her to go. Hearing more about it from Zagreus was at least a start to try to understand what it is like. “Does your sister ever leave?” she asked him. Urania loved her home, loved her sister but she did have days where she wanted something more than just their mountain. She always looked forward to the days Dionysus would take her on trips with him. “I mean I love my sisters more than anything... but they’re my sister they know better than anyone how to get on my nerves. Plus you get bored of looking at the same rock pile everyday.” she said giving a small laugh.

“That, and I was afraid if I said no you would continue to follow me around as though you were one of the animals I gave a second life to.” He shrugged and sat up lightly when she spoke about the Underworld, carefully shifting as not to disturb the wolf pup on his lap. “A while. Not too long, but long enough. It is my job after all, and I need to make sure that everything is accounted for.”

“I might have continued to follow you or I might have let you keep walking if you really shot me down. But I guess luckily for us we didn’t have to figure out how that scenario played out.” she smiled. She watched the wolf pup, happily resting on his lap. Not showing any idea of wanting to leave or move at all, he seemed perfectly happy to stay there. “That’s good then. You seem to not enjoy it there very much so I’m glad you don’t have to spend an extended period of time there.” she said. “I can get the same way of being on the mountain too long with my sisters. I have to get out or else it just becomes too much.”