Disclaimer: I do not own any of JK Rowlings work, or characters, so anything you see in my story that is in her story is hers.

Summary: Lily is personal servant, body guard, and best friend to Amial, princess of Spain. When Lily hears of a possible attempt at Amial, she must use her wit to save the princess...and herself. She must race against time, Dark Powers, deceit, the King of Thieves...a particularly good-looking man..., and love to save her kingdom. L/J AU

Of Fire and Thieves

A Meeting of Supposed Royals

Lily observed the two men out of the corner of her eye. One was the man who had captured her and brought her soup last night. She smiled inwardly, somehow finding her light mood, I shall call him Fido. He looks enough like dog, with his ragged hair, and then, last night…

The other was a sandy haired man. His eyes were haggard and deep circles ran under the blue depths of his eyes.

He's a werewolf, was the first thought that came to her head. Instead of voicing her discoveries, she snapped, "What do you want?"

She crossed her arms, waiting for an answer. The dark muscular man snorted. "It's as if she owns the place, Moony," he said while eyeing her body. Ah, nicknames. Moony. Perhaps for the moon that changes him once a month? She laughed inwardly; Fido was giving away an awful lot.

The werewolf spoke to him, "She is a princess, what do you expect?" He never took his eyes off Lily.

A silence descended on the three. A part of Lily informed her that the door was wide open and inviting.

Escape. Should I run, or find out who they are and what they want? Lily paused in her thinking, I don't believe they will tell me who they are working for so…

In a burst of speed that surprised both men, the blonde princess rushed out the door. She sprinted the length of the hallway and up the stairs, to the left, around a surprised person…her blood pumped in her ears. Her royal dress caught on a doorway and ripped.

She heard the men thundering behind her. "Stop her!" they bellowed.

Lily picked up her speed. There were so many hallways and stairs! Doors flashed by her. She took sporadic lefts and rights and climbed another flight of stairs.

Down a long hallway she tumbled, blonde hair flowing behind her. They were hot on her heels now! Through an open door, her heart raced, and she glanced quickly over her shoulder…

BAM!

She collided something solid. Lily bounced backwards, but before she could fall, large arms wrapped around her, and she was set gently on her feet. The arms stayed around her, warm and calming.

Lily stared forward. Her eyes observed a chest… an extremely bare chest. Smooth and muscular. Broad shoulders. Tanned skin. Losing herself, she brought her hands up and placed them gently on the unknown man's chest. She traced a white, shiny scar with a finger, frowning.

A cough from behind her made her jump. She remembered where she was. She untangled herself from her captor's arms. Turning, she glared at 'Fido'. She began to turn her glare to the man whom she had run into, after all, it was his fault she had gotten so caught up in his body, but halted.

Her mind froze. It just stopped. Lily swam through the thick mush that had become her mind, trying to find her way out. What was wrong with her? He was just a man; one of those people that looked amazingly like another person, yet had no connection. But she could have sworn it was him standing there, not two feet in front of her.

She could've sworn-

It couldn't be him…Harold Potter, former King of Spain, could it?

No, this man was much too young. Why, Lily was only twelve when he was forty. And after all, when she turned twelve, he went missing, only to reappear weeks later, torn and bloodied and dead.

So it couldn't be him.

She resorted to glaring at him.

The man sighed, "Sirius, I thought I told you not to let her escape," His voice was calming to Lily. She could lose herself in it. Ah! She thought nervously, what is wrong with me? First, my fingers find curiosity. Then I think he is my King. And now I am drifting off on his voice! Remember, Lily, he. Is. The enemy. I hate him. She decided finally. If he can't let me be, I will hate him.

She knew it was childish, but she was on a delicate mission. She was supposed to be the princess, for crying out loud! No princess would fall for a kidnapper, an assassin.

"Sorry, Highness, but she's fast," Sirius grumbled.

"Highness?" Lily interrupted, suddenly cool and aloof."I thought I was the princess."

The man before her winked and ruffled his unruly black hair. He graciously bowed. "Your Highness, may I have the pleasure of introducing my humble self. The King of Thieves, at your service,"

Everything suddenly became ten times harder. So I'm dealing with thieves. Real fighters. Cheaters. "That would make sense," Lily stated coldly, turning to Sirius. "That's why he cheated while he was fighting me. He wouldn't have won if he hadn't used his wand. I should have known better,"

The King held open his hands, "What can I say, Princess? I have no control over my thieves," He said it innocently, but Lily wasn't fooled. A King of Thieves was a hard job. One must keep tabs on all the crooks and thieves around, and put them in their place if need be. A King with no control was a dead king.

Lily decided to get some information. "So…" she looked up at the thief from under her dark lashes, trying her hardest not to stare at his bare chest, "you have stated who you are, but why would you want me? You seem well enough off, so you couldn't possibly be after the treasury…" She trailed off, letting him have his time to answer.

The man regarded her with humor in his eyes. Damn him! She thought. Maybe I should really try to seduce him…not just beat around the bush. Or should I throw a tantrum?

But the King did answer, "You are a smart girl. I'm sure you have already figured it out,"

Lily smirked. Fine. Two people can play this game. "I may have, Your Highness," she mocked him now, and she heard an angry noise from behind her, no doubt made by Fido. "But can't you spare a poor girl your thought?" The King raised his eyebrow patiently at her. She came to the conclusion quickly that she wasn't going to get anywhere with this man. Not now. So her mind quickly turned to escape.

Her thoughts fell onto the small vial of itchwort that was tucked securely in her tight, slightly revealing bodice. Trying to distract him, she confessed, "You are right, I have thought about why you want me," Lily's voice teased him, but her mind was elsewhere.

She took a step to the left, and when he didn't move, she took another. "You have my wand, do you not?" She breathed down his back, whispering in his ear. Lily could see Fido bristle, and she looked at him with clouded, mysterious green eyes. The King himself turned his head slightly, half-looking at her out of the corner of his hazel eye.His body did not move, but she sensed his liquid muscles tense slightly.

Slipping a delicate hand through the laces of her bodice, a most sensual act, she removed a full vial of white powder. "You know, I would like it back," she whispered so soft, she knew the King would have to strain to hear her. In a split second she uncorked the glass and whipped around him again, twirling her hands in a wild dance-like motion, simultaneously drenching him in itchwort.

The powder went unnoticed, but at her abrupt movement, both men drew arms.

Lily giggled, trying to offset them. "Such violence," she laughed, removing two throwing daggers from either arm.

The three fought in a whirlwind of color, and Lily managed to throw one of her knives to capture Fido against the wall. It was the King and the blonde, and when the struggling Sirius pulled his wand out, the princess managed to duck around the King, ensuring her own safety from curses or hexes.

The King had not gained his position amongst thieves for no reason. But when it seemed neither could best the other in combat, he hooked his own wand out, and performed a quick Body Charm.

Lily found, for the second time in the last two days, herself to be out of control of her body. She strained to lift her arm, but the muscles wouldn't react, and she was left to flop on the floor.

In any other case, Lily would have sighed out of resignation. But something about the King made her want to prove that she could fight. He made her want to show him that she was worth it. Worth what? Lily thought, appalled at what she had been thinking.

So she turned to glaring at him savagely. He smiled cockily at her glare, "Hey, I told you I was a thief. Thieves cheat." He walked over to Fido and pulled the knife from the wall, releasing the man from his capture.

"I've got to tend to more business; the Brans' Brothers thought they could get away with lying to me," The King pulled on a plain cotton shirt and attached knives in numerous places along his body. The traitorous part of Lily felt disapointed when he pulled the shirt over his head. He spoke to Fido now, casually scratching his back, "Disarm her. Bring in Rosemerta to find all the knives on her legs and such," Sirius muttered, 'you're no fun at all!', "And get her some food and onto a horse. We're moving out today."

Without a backward glance, the King left the room scratching his head. Lily's eyes picked up a slight coloring on his neck, and would have giggled, but she stonily remained silent. The itchwort was taking effect.

The man, Fido, or Sirius, as the King had called him, approached Lily slowly. He couldn't help his wandering eyes, but couldn't divulge his enthusiastic hands.

Instead, he called out a name, "Rosemerta!"

A pretty lady in bright, gypsy-like clothes bustled into the room, heels clicking. "You are lucky I am off serving duty, Sirius. You know you can't call me whenever you get the urge," the lady perked an eyebrow at him, obviously implying something. "My girls can't be distracted by you."

Sirius chuckled, his face suddenly bright. "No, no, Rosemerta. She must be disarmed. The King didn't think it wise for a man to do it," he motioned to the immobile Lily.

Rosemerta's red mouth shaped into an O. A faint tint graced her cheeks, and Lily almost sighed with jealousy; when she blushed, she turned deep red. The curvy Rosemerta shooed Sirius out of the room with a long hand and bent to examine Lily.

"My name's Rosemerta. You must have really riled the King, I passed him in the hall, and he had aweird look on his face," The comment was, in no way, unfriendly. In fact, the woman seemed quite amiable. "It's a pleasure to meet you," The woman smiled, and Lily observed that she seemed to be older than Lily herself, probably nearing her mid thirties.

Rosemerta's smile diminished as she looked at Lily's face. She brought a hand down to Lily's white-blonde hair, and felt it between her finders. She then traced Lily's eyebrows, which were an amber brown color; a color resembling Lily's natural red hair. The woman frowned and gave Lily a disbelieving look and Lily shook inside.

Oh no! My eyebrows don't match my hair! How could I have been so stupid? She will tell everybody, and then they will capture Amial and I will have failed! Lily's trained mind forced those thoughts away roughly, Shut up. If they capture Amial, I will find her. I won't fail Moody.

Some of Lily's emotions must have leaked into her eyes because the woman said, "I don't know who you are supposed to be, or why the King wants you, but I can assure you, I will not be the one to tell them you are a phony,"

Lily would have questioned why, but there was no need to as Rosemerta continued. "I like you. You made James question himself; I could see it in his eyes. You made a fool of Sirius last night. You are obviously doing your job well, and as I see it, you are not a major threat. I won't blow your cover. Let the boys find out for themselves. But when that day comes, don't expect me to help you. This is all I am doing,"

Gratitude swam in Lily's green eyes, and Rosemerta began to disarm Lily.

She whistled quietly when she was done, looking at the pile of expensive weapons and vials on the floor. "You must have worked for someone rich!" she commented.

Sirius burst through the door. "What is taking so bloody long?"

Rosemerta raised another eyebrow. "Sirius, my boy, just because you are unable to obtain Rose, doesn'tmeanyou areallowed you to takeyour anger out on me!"

Sirius glowered at the floor and stepped up to Lily, gathering up the weapons in a clean white cloth. He looked over at Lily. "The King ordered her to have a bath and a change of clothes. He's bloody wankers, if you ask me,"

Rosemerta hid her smile, "No one asked you."

Sirius grumbled again and tromped out the door, calling back, "Have her ready on Lynx by noon. We're departing when the sun has reached its point."

Rosemerta shook her head, laughing.

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To make it clear: Sirius and Rosemerta are NOT together. It may have been a bit confusing from their exchange, but they are not.

This is my break between camps and I made it to the computer! I promise to update within three days of getting back from this coming camp if I get 13 or more reviews! …Actually, that was just me hoping. I'll update anyway!

LOVED the 6th Harry Potter book. Won't say anymore incase some of you haven't read it. (But I'd love to hear what you thought!)

FieryStar90: I went through spell check on this chapter! I hope you don't pick up anything!

Please update! I really appreciate it!

And thank you so much for all the explanations of Mary Sue's. There were really good explanations, and I finally understand-(wow, that's a first!)-lol. ;-P