On the Nature of Stars is the 5th chapter of The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm. It takes the point of view of Angela.
Summary[]
Angela recounts various experiences from her life in her memoir. It begins with a preface on the truthfulness of the work which is followed by a chapter from Angela's childhood in which she lies outside at night and stares at the stars. As the night went on, she entered a trance in which she realized that the stars moved across the sky and that the world was moving at an incredibly fast speed. As dawn broke, the trance was broken as well and she had a both new understanding of the world and a resolution to face some inevitable consequences.
The next chapter follows an older Angela, now apprenticed to the Keeper of the Tower. Yearning to learn more in her apprenticeship Angela searches through the library, however, as Angela finds the hidden drawer she was looking for, the library Shifts, trapping her inside.
In the final chapter Angela visits Elva in her chambers in Ilirea. Hearing of Elva's abuses of her abilities and her resulting confinement, Angela offers Elva a way out through travels and apprenticeship with her. Bitter and angry at her situation, Elva looks on the plan and argues with scorn and skepticism before eventually agreeing. Before leaving Elva says a goodbye to her caretaker Greta who frantically tells Elva her worries and desire to protect the young girl. Elva becomes annoyed as this continues before softly saying something to Greta that seemed to deal the caretaker a deathblow, before following it up with another whisper in an attempt to undo the damage. Horrified and split on her feelings with the girl, Greta tells Elva she loves her before leaving. When Angela speaks again, Elva looks her in the eyes and says her greatest fear. Taking the girl's hand, Angela traces along the bare stone of the wall and opens a door she has created along the wall that reveals a beach with Solembum. Hand in hand, Elva and Angela walk through the portal.
Trivia[]
- This chapter was written by Christopher Paolini's real-life sister, Angela Paolini, who was the inspiration for Angela the Herbalist.
- This is the first chapter written from the point of view of Angela.
- It is also the first chapter in the books to be written from a first person point of view.
| The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm |
|---|
| Part One - The Fork: I. Mount Arngor | II. A Fork in the Road | III. The Hall of Colors Part Two - The Witch: IV. Rhymes and Riddles | V. On the Nature of Stars | VI. Questions and Answers Part Three - The Worm: VII. Deadfall | VIII. The Worm of Kulkaras | IX. New Beginnings |