Lily of the valley

25

The water gave them no peace, its rapids rose and fell with the rivers wild rush southward. Lily had lost consciousness and Katherine lay across her body; desperately clinging to the raft which threatened, so ardently, to throw them off. The cool spray was some relief from the heat at least, it soaked them to the bone. Katherine muttered a prayer into the crook of Lily's neck, she screwed her eyes shut and awaited fates flip of the coin. Their sopping red and white hair was tangling together. They passed small settlements of animal skin tents and smoked herbs, the air was divinely aromatic, despite the copper scent of fear. Katherine did not see the strange animals that they passed, the coyote and elk, the vivid lizards blinking on sunlit rocks, the eagle soaring overhead. Katherine could hear its cries and they reminded her of home. She was far from that decadent world of white now. 

The raft hit a rock and began to splinter, then another and another. Katherine sliced open her hands trying to hold the wooden boards together, she could not falter, she would not allow herself any moments of weakness. Her body ached with acidic tension. She did not know how far the river ran, she did not know how she would stop the raft, she did not know if there was anybody along the shore that could help Lily. 

They approached the thunderous roar of falling water, tonnes of it. The river sped up and twisted more violently, Katherine gritted her teeth and held onto Lily as they approached the waterfall. She could not see the depth of the fall nor the safety of the landing. 

"We will survive. We will survive. We will survive." Katherine mouthed, prayed, begged of the gods. But the gods only came out in the night, for they were blinded by the sun. They went over the edge. They soared. There was no sound, no sensation, only nothingness. Katherine wrapped her arms around Lily, in preparation to hit the water. They went under, the raft shattered into splinters. The water was quieter under the surface, calmer. All Katherine could see was fresh blue and streaming rich golden sunlight. Instinctively she kicked her legs, hauling Lily up with her. 

Katherine broke the surface and discovered the calmness of a deep lake, the water sat at the heart of a hidden city, golden spires seemed to glow. Katherine could have cried out for relief, she began to swim to the edge of the lake, it was difficult work pulling Lily along with her. Katherine swam on her back with lily resting on Katherine's chest, face up. A trio of golden glinting guards rushed to the lake side, there was no boat and they could not swim in their weighty armour. Katherine slowly paddled towards them. Her relief was undercut with a sense of dread, she longed to trust the inhabitants of that place but knew she could not drop her guard. 

The knights pulled Katherine and Lily from the water, they seemed fraught with genuine concern. 

"What happened?" The tallest guard asked Katherine, while observing Lily's blackened wounds and state of unconsciousness. The knight lifted Lily from the ground and began to walk towards the city gates, he knew that there was no time to lose and would take Lily straight to a medic. Katherine jogged after him, gripping his jewelled arm.

"Where are you taking her!" Katherine was overwhelmed with worry for her and her companions safety in this strange land. 

"For help, what happened?" The city guard responded as he marched through the golden gate. 

"She was bitten, by a creature, I know not its name." The city was overwhelming, the scents of cooking and perfume wafted about the streets. There was a bustling life line of people, dwarves, elves, fairies, even the occasional dryad passed through. The city was a haven for outcasts. 

"Describe it." They turned a corner down an alley cast in shadow. 

"It was long, and thin... and coiled... with no legs." The knight looked concerned, he stopped outside a wooden door and hammered on it.