Snow White Queen [NaNoWriMo 2018]

Chapter Thirty-One

Lilia had more questions running through her mind than she could ask. She stood, dumbfounded, before the nymphs, trying to figure out something she could say that wouldn't make them smite her.

One of the nymphs smiled, and despite the pointed teeth, the smile was comforting and eased some of Lilia's nerves. "Don't be afraid. We only want to help."

A distant memory whispered in the back of Lilia's mind. Stories of forest spirits luring unsuspecting humans into traps under the guise of benevolence, only to spring their trap and for that human to never be heard from again.

The nymph must have noticed Lilia's hesitation. "Don't worry, child. We are not the kind of nymphs that harm others."

Still skeptical, Lilia stayed back. "So what kind of nymphs are you, then?"

"Guardians."

"Of what?"

A second nymph stepped forward. "The very thing you seek - the Moristis Apple."

Lilia nodded to herself. So she was in the right place.

The second nymph smiled at her. "My name is Litta." She gestured at her companion. "This is Arella."

Lilia nodded greetings to both of them. "What do you mean, 'congratulations'?"

Arella and Litta exchanged a glance. "Tell her now, she's already gotten this far," Litta said.

Arella looked back at Lilia. "In order to get the Apple, one must complete three tasks."

"Why?"

"It's a dangerous item, as I'm sure you already know. We can't just give it to anyone."

Lilia held her chin up, ready for any challenge they'd throw at her. "So what's the first challenge?"

"You've already completed it."

She stuttered. "I'm sorry?"

"The first task is to successfully find us and make it past the Lights."

"The Lights?"

"They protect us. They lead the people that they deem worthy to us and ward away the people they believe to be a threat. In all my years living here, they haven't been wrong."

Litta smiled. "Congratulations."

Lilia didn't know how to react. She simply bowed her head and muttered a thank you. "What's the second task?"

Litta pointed to the pool in front of them. "At the bottom of this is a small pack. This is what you will use to carry the Apple, should you succeed in retrieving it. Your task is to get the pack and bring it to the surface."

Lilia nodded. "Simple enough."

"I will warn you that there are... creatures in the water that will try to stop you."

"Okay then."

"We'll be waiting for you." Litta and Arella turned and retreated back into the trees. Arella called over her shoulder, "Good luck."

Lilia surveyed the pool in front of her. It seemed shallow and calm, though if she knew anything about enchantments, it was probably the exact opposite.

She set aside her bag and prepared herself for the dive.

She poked her foot in. The water felt warm enough. Under different circumstances, Lilia thought that this would be a nice place to relax.

Lilia took a deep breath and dove into the pool.

The first thing that surprised her was that she could breathe and see with ease. Clearly, this was not typical water. She moved her hand and felt the water resistance. So she'd still have to swim.

She looked around for both the sack and the creatures that Litta had warned her about. She saw no creatures, but she did see her objective.

She began to swim towards it, still on guard for anything that might jump at her.

Lilia picked up the cloth sack and examined it. Nothing seemed significant about it - it was a simple brown color and just the right size to hold an apple, though she could feel something powerful in the fabric.

Something moved in the corner of her eye. She snapped her head to the side to look and found herself facing a giant eel, its gaping maw revealing rows of teeth.

In any other situation, Lilia would have panicked and fled, but something told her that this was different.

She took a step back from the creature so she could look it in the eye. Carefully, she put out her hand and let it approach her. The creature slowly lifted its giant head and nuzzled it against Lilia's outstretched hand.

The two remained still for a moment before the eel turned and swam away.

Lilia looked around. Other eels of similar size surrounded her. When the first turned, the rest also retreated, leaving her path to the surface clear. She swam to the top and surfaced, the bag in her hand somehow perfectly dry.

Arella and Litta emerged from the trees. They exchanged a glance and seemed to communicate in silence.

"Well done," Arella said finally. "You've completed the second challenge."

"Most people quit once they see the eels," Litta added.

Lilia shrugged. "I'm not most people."

"You most certainly are not."

"So, the next challenge?"

Arella pointed to the top of the mountain. "Up there is a brazier. The third task is to light it."

"That's it?"

"Yes. Oh, one thing." Litta pulled out a bag and held it out to her. "You light it with this."

Lilia took the bag and held it uncertainly.

"Yes, you can look inside."

She opened it and saw that enclosed within was a small flame.

"It's an eternal flame. The brazier judges worthiness with that. If you can light it, you can take the Apple."

Lilia was suddenly much more nervous about this. How was she supposed to know if she was worthy? What if this entire trip was for nothing?

"We wish you luck," Litta told her, and something about the way she said it made Lilia think she was being genuine.

Lilia looked up at the cliff she was to scale. "Here goes nothing."

The climb was easy at the beginning. Lilia found herself thinking that maybe this would be a pleasant task.

Slowly, as she climbed higher, the mountain face became more and more difficult to climb, until she was practically moving vertically.

The top of the cliff was in sight. She was so close-

Her foot landed on an unstable foothold. The piece of rock broke, leaving her foot dangling in midair. She scrambled to regain her footing, but in the process, her other foot fell free. Her hands slipped from their holds and she fell.

This is the last one I have written in full right now, the next one will hopefully be out in the next few days.
Also Grammarly thinks this the tone of this chapter is encouraging, friendly, and informal.
Thanks for reading. I'll see you next time,
~Patchesmimi