Still don't own anything. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far. It is wonderful to get feedback!
"Hello." Sarah said, with faint hope that politeness would get them out of the predicament they found themselves in. "I don't suppose you will let us pass."
"Nope." said the creature.
"Ludo, do you think you could persuade this gentleman to move?" Sarah asked, hoping that Ludo's size would intimidate the creature. Ludo stepped forward, placed his paws on either side of the guard who looked only mildly concerned, and tried to pick him up, but he was immovable.
"Not gonna help you that way," said the guard.
Didymus, eager as always to do battle strode forward. "Avast, ye scurvy dog, Let us pass, else you feel the wrath of my sword!"
The guard stared down at him. "That can't cut me. I'm a Golem."
Hoggle was examining the guard closely. "He's made of stone!" he said in surprise.
"I'm made of clay." The golem corrected. "Will you tell the dog to stop attacking me? Its kind of annoying."
"What is a golem, anyway?" Hoggle asked, pulling Didymus away from the creature.
"Its an artificial person, magically brought to life." Sarah answered absently. She was pondering her next move. "Okay, Golem, what do we need to do to get past you?"
"Simple. Answer my riddle correctly, and the door will open to safety. Answer it wrongly, and the door will lead to certain death. Refuse to answer, and you can just stay here forever."
"Well, that's not an option, so I guess we'll try the riddle." Sarah said. She was pretty good at riddles, and she felt pretty confident that certain death wasn't part of Jareth's game. Death would be too easy.
"Great! No one's come by me in ages!" said the golem happily, then after much clearing of his throat, he intoned:
Four jolly men sat down to play,
And played all night till break of day.
They played for cash and not for fun,
With a separate score for every one.
When it came time to square accounts,
they all had made quite fair amounts.
Now, not one has lost and all have gained –
Tell me now, this can you explain?"
"We're doomed." Hoggle moaned. "We'll be stuck here forever."
"Nay, tis quite a simple answer," Didymus said, "It is obvious that all men won at least one hand, thus they all made money."
"But he said not one had lost. How could they all have won but not lost? Think about it," said Hoggle.
"I…" started Sarah.
"Perhaps they all cheated?"
"But someone would have had to lose, and he said no one did. See? Doomed."
"I…"
"Ludo say they play at different tables."
Sarah stared at him. "That's actually a pretty good answer, but it's not the right one. I know the answer." She turned to the golem. "They were members of an orchestra."
The golem looked disappointed. "That was too easy." He complained.
"Tough. You asked the riddle, we answered, now let us pass."
"Fine." The golem stepped aside, and the door swung open. Sarah walked to the entrance then hesitated. The last time this happened she thought she was headed in the right direction and wound up being put in the oubliette by the helping hands.
"Where exactly does this passage go?" she asked.
"I don't know. I just guard the door."
"It goes away from here. That's good enough for me," said Hoggle, and he darted past Sarah into the passage. Didymus and Ludo followed him and Sarah, with some hesitation, joined them. (Riddle courtesy of )