Riddle me this, riddle me that…

Lily stared into the hard eyes of the Sphinx, many thoughts going through her head. Did she have a chance of out running it? What would happen if she answered wrong? She bit her bottom lip. She thought of just trying to run for it but its eyes narrowed as if it knew what she planned.

Lily sighed. "Alright, I know I must answer a riddle so what is it?"

It looked at her for a moment as if contemplating if it should just attack her for the way she spoke to it. Then it opened its mouth to speak.

If you break me
I do not stop working,
If you touch me
I may be snared,
If you lose me
Nothing will matter
.

She looked at it blankly. What in bloody hell does that mean? She began to replay the riddle in her head. It can work while broken, if touched it's trapped, if it was lose nothing mattered… what the heck can it be?

"Uh… how many tries do I get?" she asked. The silence answered enough for her. Obviously the thing the Sphinx spoke of wasn't materialistic.

After about 5 minutes of wondering Lily felt tears sting her eyes. She was going to depart this life with an excruciating death in a dark dirty cave. She'll never meet her knight in shining armor who'll take her away from the troubles of being a princess. Someone who'd steal her… then it dawned on her.

A heart! If someone broke her heart it wouldn't stop working, if someone touched it they'd have it, and if she lost her heart nothing in the world would matter to her. Yes!

She smiled and looked the Sphinx square in the eyes. "The answer to that riddle is the heart." When it continued to just stare at her the smile immediately wiped off her face and she feared that she was incorrect but finally it spoke.

You've answered correctly I'm sad to say

You may leave unharmed now be on your way

The Sphinx looked as if it were going to turn to continue its catnap but thought differently. Lily took a step back cautiously fearing that it would attack regardless. She took a few more cautious steps until she backed into something.

"My, look what I've caught."

She slowly turned. It was one of the men who'd kidnapped her. Her eyes widened in despair. After all that she'd have to go back. Then she remembered the Sphinx. There's no way it would let him get away; after all, he was live prey.

She turned to run but he caught her. "You're not going anywhere." He took hold of her hair. She struggled with him for a moment then realized the Sphinx was slowly approaching them. He'd have to answer a riddle.

She knew the exact moment when he saw it. She couldn't help but grin. If what she'd seen said anything about these men who wanted her so badly they were as dumb as trolls.

In my cave you've hurried and blundered

Only to delay my perfect slumber

If you intend to live, your task is little,

Put your mind to the test and answer my riddle

If answered correct you may leave in peace

If answered wrong on your flesh I'll feast.

"W-what do you w-want?" he stammered. Lily rolled her eyes. She just said answer her riddle.

Until I am measured
I am not known,
yet how you miss me
when I have flown.

Lily had to admit she felt sorry for him. The riddle was difficult and for a man as slow as him… it was like finding the cure to the common cold.

She screamed when he pushed her towards the Sphinx and tried to run. But unfortunately for him it had swift reflexes and caught him in 3 seconds time.

Lily steadied herself and ran as fast as her legs would carry her. She didn't care where she ran to just as long as she got away from those agonizing screams. She felt tears sting her eyes at the sound of the man's pain. No one deserved such a vicious demise.

After what seemed like years she finally made it to a small clearing with a very broad river. "I heard something that way," she heard someone say.

She panicked and ran up the river. She didn't want to go back into the forest for fear of running into something worst than a Sphinx. At least with the Sphinx she had somewhat of a chance. Could you imagine if she'd come across an ogre?

After a while she couldn't run to any further extent so she stopped for a breather. She stopped just at the edge of the river eager to get a drink of water. "Are you okay?"

She turned around with a shriek and lost her footing sending her falling back into the river. She flailed her arms trying her best to hit the surface but when she did all that happened was she once again went under water. She felt consciousness slowly leaving her… then there was a faint splash and she was being pulled towards shore.

The second she was out of the water Lily took deep steady breaths and sent a prayer to the Gods. That's when she remembered she wasn't alone. She quickly stood up, instantly feeling dizzy and she would have fallen if a strong arm hadn't wrapped around her.

"Steady there."

When everything once again came into focus she shrugged the hand off. There were four of them. She took a good look at them. One was slightly ruff looking with black hair that came down to his shoulders and grey eyes. The next had sandy blond hair and deep blue eyes. If he wasn't so dirty she'd think he was sweet. The last one gave her the creeps. He had very rough looking blonde hair and watery blue eyes. He… slightly resembled a mouse and the dirt smeared on his face did nothing to help his image.

She sized the one who'd had the nerve to touch her up. He had jet black hair with hazel eyes. All were tall except for the mousy looking one.

She took a step back. "Who are you?"

They didn't answer, instead they sized her up. Each of them held a bow and carried arrows upon their backs. The one with the long hair seemed to have this glint in his eyes that scared her. You can tell he was mysterious and mischievous by looking at him. "We should be asking you the same question," he said. He took out a blade and she froze but then all he did was cut the ropes off of her hands. She rubbed her hand and eyed them.

She took a step back but their reflexes were good and 'Hazel Eyes' and 'Mystery Man' each took her arm. "Unhand me!"

'Mystery Man' jerked her arm to eye her bracelet. It was a silver emerald emblazoned heirloom. She tried her best to pull her hand free but he had a tight grip on her. "This should be worth masses." He looked her over and took a pin from her hair, roughly. "This too. What do you say mate?"

'Hazel Eyes' took the pin. "It has a diamond in it!" he exclaimed in amazement. He eyed her skeptically. "Who are you?"

She glowered at him. "Give that here." That's when she realized 'Mystery Man' was unclasping her bracelet. "Stop it!"

He chucked it to the one with the sandy hair. "What exactly do you think this is worth Moony?"

'Sandy' eyed it. "Most likely more than all our lives."

Lily rolled her eyes. Some people are so thespian. Its might be worth more than their houses but their lives? Then she heard the voices. At the moment she didn't care if they took her things just as long as they let her go before those idiots caught up with her. When she finally found survivors from her kingdom she'd track these four down and have them put in the dungeons. She didn't dare dwell on the fact that if her father had perished maybe the rest of her kingdom had gone too. Why would Gezail desert us like that? Why didn't she come down from her mountain and aid us?

"Keep them, I don't need them anyway. Now may I go?" she pleaded.

They eyed her skeptically. "Why should we?" Mystery Man' asked.

"Because if you don't let me go…" she racked her brain for something to say. "You'd have to deal with a lot. I'm used to being pampered and I doubt you'd want someone such as me with you."

They still eyed her skeptically. Finally they too heard the voices. They turned to see a large group of men. Lily groaned. "Oh no."

"There she is!" They came running and Lily began cowering behind the two boys.

"Do you know them?" Hazel eyes asked, looking down at her.

She shook her head. "They'd kidnapped me and I'd just escaped." Her eyes watered. "Please don't let them take me again."

"Just our luck! We think we're getting a break when we finally catch someone with something worth stealing and she's got a gang of goons after her," 'Mystery Man; grumbled.

"I think we should help her," 'Sandy' said.

"I say we mind our business." So the rat finally decides to speak up! Lily thought irately.

'Hazel Eyes' sighed and drew an arrow. Lily sighed in relief as the other three drew their arrows. There is a God…


A/n: That's that. Everyone wanted to know how James fit into the picture well he's somewhat of a thief. He steals every once in a while but he's not that bad as you can see. You'll hear his story later but now just review.

Oh and I hope you understood the names and things.

Mystery Man- Sirius

Sandy- Remus

Hazel Eyes- James

The rat of course is Peter