A/N: So, updating some more, because I can...
Out of breath and muscles in full protest, Mel stumbled her way up the stairs behind Erik, tumbling into the small library of the Court of Miracles.
After spending so many hours here as a child, she already knew the tiny room held only mostly the books that weren't worth selling, random bits of unfashionable fiction and books on random, unhelpful topics like the formulas of ancient Japanese paints or novel-writing. Now she'd wished she'd read that one, but there was no time to stop and look at it now.
Mel and Erik made their way to the door of the darkened room, but stopped when they noticed someone- some stranger leaning against the table in the room's center, an open book in his hand.
"Ah, hello there!" the stranger called pleasantly, his thick British accent reminding her of a favorite actor in the opera. "So glad you made it this far!"
"Who are you?" Mel asked.
"I am Rupert Giles, friend of the Author's, I assume you'd gather. Unfortunately, I have been installed here to stop you."
"Stand down." Erik growled.
"Ah, no. I will do no such thing, I'm afraid," Giles replied, pushing his wire-framed glasses up the bridge of his nose, "In order to pass through here and make your way to the 'Palace', you must correctly answer three of my riddles. Terribly… traditional, wouldn't you say?"
"We're not here to play games!" Mel shouted.
"This is no game, sorry to say. I hold the only key to that door and I highly doubt the Author would allow me to lose them should you resort to physical force, as unrealistic as it may be. Now, the first riddle is for the lady, she alone may answer it.
"What always runs but never walks, often murmurs, never talks, has a bed but never sleeps, has a mouth but never eats?"
Alright, Mel thought, Let's think of the parts here. What runs? An athlete? But they can walk. A program? Those don't 'walk'. Maybe it's someone's nose. Ew. Alright what about the bed? I'm guessing that means that it isn't a bed in the traditional sense. Maybe a truck bed or a- oh! Oh, that's a good one.
"A river!" Mel cried.
Giles nodded, "Very good. I am quite impressed. Now, for you, good sir,
"The more you have of it, the less you see. What is it?"
"Darkness," Erik answered simply.
"Short answer, short riddle, very good, very good. This final one is for the both of you, you may work out the answer together,
"What is something that cannot be measured until it is tested
Cannot be held, but felt when rested
Said to be patient and perfect and kind
and blind."
"That sounds familiar, like a quote or something," Erik mused, "Where have I heard that before?"
Mel smiled a warm grin, "I think I know."
"Are you sure?" he asked, "You have to be positive here, Mel."
"I am. Positive."
"Have you your answer?" Giles asked.
Mel nodded and slipped her hand into Erik's. "Love," she said, squeezing their intertwined fingers "Your answer is 'Love'."
Giles nodded, seeming serious, but delight danced in his silver eyes, "You are correct. Unfortunately for the Author, that was the third riddle, and I've been told to grant you passage."
He snapped the book shut in his hand and stood up from the table, moving out of their path.
"Please do proceed," he nodded.
Erik smiled a bit wistfully at Mel, gave her hand a second squeeze and let it drop.
Together, they proceeded towards the door, which opened into a small corridor, dark and dreary in gray concrete. On the far wall were two doors, a left and right, exactly identical.
"Which one should we take, do you think?" Mel asked, gravitating towards the right door.
"We can always mark our way if we take the wrong turn," Erik said, making his way to the left.
Suddenly, something rumbled beneath their feet, and without warning, a massive steel wall rocketed towards the ceiling, separating them.
A/N: Just proving that cliffhangers NEVER get old!