Lily of the valley

32

Katherine and Lily had been left to their own entertainment with just a map of the palace and a polished golden key to their bedchambers. The handwritten list of rooms they had been given was enchanting, the spa, the dryadic courtyard, the library, the ballroom, the underground lake, the cathedral that honoured the God of sunlight. They decided to find the courtyard first, a sanctuary of foreign flora, kept alive by the earthly presence of Ixia. They had no idea of the moves being played in the shadows, or of the cogs turning. It was only a matter of time before Katherine would be thrust out into the spotlight, the crown of peace was bound to be a heavy burden. Those were the final days she had to live for herself.

The corridors were winding and theatric, golden tapestries and marble tiles adorned the space. The palace was a haven of beauty and glamour, lace covered the windows to keep the midday heat at bay. The gardens were at the heart of the sprawling castle, the ladies of the mountain worked their way down twisting staircases and across vast drawing rooms till they reached the roofless room. Gilded golden doors were all that separated them from the earthy paradise, they entered to find heaven.

Oak trees filled the vast space, blotting out the sun, in the time it took to cross a thresh hold they could have been transported right back to that dark forest. The earth was coated in moss and heath, roots twisted around marble figures of goddesses and peaceful spirits. There were faye in the air, their dancing and otherworldly music was seductive. The ladies of the mountain were enchanted and could have stayed there forever, gazing up at the dappled sunlight and lithe ballerina limbs. They remained in that garden for some hours, just breathing and revelling in a powerful sense of wholeness. Time was lost to them, they could have been lost there for moments or for years, it did not matter.

At long last they were discovered by Ixia sauntering through, with a soft touch to their foreheads she brought them back to lucidity. Their arousal back into reality was groggy and un welcomed. Like awaking from a beautiful dream.

"Careful ladies, too many have fallen pray to these trees." The dryad helped them to their feet, they had been laying amongst the damp moss. The faye had disappeared back into their rose buds and tunnels below the roots; they feared Ixia would banish them to the sandy wasteland outside if she caught them.

"Come, the Queen wishes to speak with you." The dryad girl pulled Katherine and Lily to their feet.

"What about?" Lily asked, wiping the sleep from her eyes.

"We shouldn't talk about that here." They progressed out of the enchanted courtyard into the hallway, Ixia locked the doors behind them with a rusty iron key. "We must move with haste." The ladies of the mountain stumbled after Ixia, down corridors and up stairwells. The dryad's long legs granted her speed and grace, Katherine and Lily had to break into a half jog just to keep up.

They walked to the palace's southern wing, a dark and windowless area of the castle, to combat the unbearable mid afternoon heat. The wing was often disused, the rooms they passed through were lit only by the small lantern that Ixia carried. Deep shadows were cast across the walls, the silence was uncanny, their footsteps echoed on the marble. They moved further and further into the labyrinth of darkened rooms until they reached a ballroom, illuminated by firelight and glistening silver. The walls were mirrored, the room seemed eternal.

Queen Thea and Lady Agathe were sat whispering in the far corner, they looked up with nervous, twitchy expressions when they heard the trio enter.

"Were you followed?" Thea asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"No." Ixia responded, the group made their way over to the corner where the Queen and her right hand woman were trawling through history books and ancient maps.

"Come, come sit." Thea beckoned for the ladies of the mountain to join her on a blue velvet sofa, she was manic with stress. "There is a prophecy which we believe concerns you Katherine." Thea gripped Katherine's clasped hands.

"Yes. I know." Katherine replied, her calmness was a mask but it enriched the Queen's faith in her.

"How?" Thea pressed.

"We have been to the seat of kings, we met a goddess there, she showed us everything." Katherine spoke words that made Thea and her handmaids shudder, the attention of the Gods truly had been turned. They looked in awe at that frail young girl, beneath her innocence was a strength that would topple nations. And beside her sat loyalty and passion, a fierce protector and loving sister. Lady Agathe stumbled into a seat, the piety of her homeland raced through her. She'd have thrown herself at their feet if it had not been for her pride.

"Which Goddess?" Agathe asked once the shockwave had subsided.

"She commanded time." Lily gave an answer. Agathe's skin prickled with divinity, a great desire overwhelmed her, to break into prayer and hymn.

"Saturn." Agathe praised breathlessly, mistress of time, of hardship, of victory. "What did she show you?"

"The war. She told us to reunite the seat of kings."

"Then that is what we will do." Agathe reassured the ladies of the mountain.

"You mean to help us!" Katherine gasped with rich relief and renewed hope. It seemed that everyone had such faith in her, yet she felt like a lost child.

"We already have." Queen Thea lifted a glass of red wine to her stained lips. "The forest is awake once more, and messengers gallop for our allies. But now you must be wed. It is through men us women must conduct our power. Tomorrow we ride." The ground felt as if it had been pulled from beneath Katherine's feet, everything was moving too quickly. The passage of time was merciless. Katherine just nodded, her spirit heavy. She had not thought of the wedding, it was all too terrible, she knew enough not to expect to fall in love.

"Now, go prepare yourselves. We leave early. Remember, this must remain a secret." Thea took another drink, and lit a long cigarette. She lay back in her seat and took a drag, tendrils of pale smoke twisted upwards.

Ixia led Katherine and Lily from the secretive chambers, no one had seen them come or go. The early kindling of uprising was safe and red hot. The ladies of the mountain returned to the safety of their borrowed bedchambers, they barred the doors. Overwhelmed by progress, and fear and weakness the world spun. Lily held Katherine as they both sobbed.