“Well three to be precise,” Dave said, he paced around in front of me with his hands behind his back. “Us imps love a good riddle and you can’t answer them it will show that you are simply a neadrathal and of no use to this world. Answer them correctly and it will show us that you have an ounce of a brain and thus are worthy to walk free of this cave.”

“Us imps love a good riddle,” Vera said, bouncing up and down in excitement behind Dave, she was practically vibrating.

This was such a random experience, stuck in a cave, trapped by ice magic with two imps that had robbed us in our sleep. It only amplified how boring my life was, or had been.

“What is in it for you?” I asked. “What is the catch? There is always a catch with riddles.” My remembered the stories I was told as a child by my mum like Rumplestiltskin, you were never to trust the creature that spoke in riddles.

“Your watch?” He said the word slowly as if it was a new word to him and he wanted to make sure he pronounced it right. “If you do not get the riddles right, then you will give it to us freely. There is so much power in an item that is given and not taken.”

“What? My watch, hell no, this is the last thing that I have that belonged to my d-” I stopped myself when I noticed how blue Ravens face was turning, her body encased in ice. I couldn’t leave her like this, not after everything she had done for me.

“And if I get the riddles right, you will let us free and give us our things back?”

Dave thought for a moment.

“Do we have a deal?” There was an insistence in my voice, a shout of urgency which started Dave.

“Yes, we have a deal, if you agree to these terms then we shall begin.”

“I agree,” albeit reluctantly, I didn’t have any other choice, besides how hard could these riddles be.

Vera started clapping in the background, smiling almost manically.

“Then we shall begin,” Dave raised a close fist to his mouth and let out a dry cough as if clearing his throat. For some reason he started speaking like he was a thespian in a stage play at the theatre, his voice low and booming, almost over the top.

"Bound by magic, a servant's role to play,

In a grand old castle, where young wizards stay.

With bat-like ears and eyes so green,

A loyal friend, though often unseen.

Freedom granted by a single sock,

This creature's joy, a master's shock.

What is this being, so small and brave,

Whose love and courage, a boy once saved?"

I chuckled to myself, knowing the answer almost instantly. It was a movie I watched time and time again as a kid, in fact it was one of my favourites. The question is how did Dave the imp, know about it in this world. It made no sense.

“I have you don’t I?” Dave grinned, leaning into me slightly. “Go on, admit it, admit your defeat and that you do not know the answer.”

“It’s a house Elf." I said, “The answer is a house elf.”

“No!” Dave laughed, slapping his hand on his knee.

Vera started bouncing around in absolute glee.

“I was sure I had you with that one, do you have house elves in your world? Such beautiful creatures, the bravest of us all.”

“Kind of,” I said with a smile, there was something oddly satisfying with answering a riddle, but I needed to remind myself of the gravity of the situation.

“Well done,” Dave said becoming more animated, “Shall we move onto riddle number two?” He held out his hand stretching out two fingers into the peace sign.

"In a realm where summers span decades and winters a lifetime,

Lies a seat of power, forged from the blades of the fallen.

A thousand swords, melted and beaten, to form a twisted throne,

A symbol of conquest, for a king to call his own.

Many have fought and died, for a chance to claim this prize,

But in the end, only one can rule, under the watchful eyes.

What is this seat, so sought after and revered,

Where kings and queens have sneered?"

No fucking way, I thought, dumbfounded at the riddle, it was so simple, for me anyway. This had been my favourite tv series as an adult, the bloody violence, the characters amid some racy scenes too, except for the sister shagging, that was fr too much for me. It let itself down in its final season and I definitely preferred reading the books but I knew exactly what Dave was talking about and I couldn’t help but feel giddy, my own excitement growing.

“Go on say, you can’t can you? I have you with this one.” Dave beamed, he was so sure about himself. To be fair it was a good riddle, especially if he had just come up with it of the cuff. Did this also exist here? My mind was blown.

“The Iron Throne.” I said with confidence. “The answer is The Iron Throne.”

Dave stopped in his tracks as soon as I spoke, I thought he was going to lose his head but was pleasantly surprised when his stern face erupted into a ginormous smile.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“Wow, I mean, I thought I had you with that one. Have you heard these riddles before? You must have.”

“Just call it intuition,” I said, I had so many questions to ask but we didn’t have time, Raven didn’t ave time. “Are you ok? One more riddle and I will have us free.”

Raven’s eyes were open but they were vacant, it was strange seeing her look so vulnerable.

Vera was now dancing around in sheer delight, I had never seen anyone so happy about a riddle being answered but I could be forgiven for also feeling a little snug.

“Right the, riddle number three!” Garry held out his hand up with three fingers and rolled the r’s as he spoke in an extremely theatrical manner. “I have saved my best until last, it is a riddle no one has ever solved and one that I am sure you will fail on, leaving us with your watch. I may even let you free of our trap, even if you get it wrong, are you ready?”

I glanced at Raven before saying, “Hurry up, we dont have long.”

“Well aren’t you eager. Very well here goes,”

"In the darkness of the night,

a tapping at the door,

A visitor, a messenger, from the distant shore.

Perched above the chamber door, with eyes that burn and bore,

A bird of ebon, speaking words, 'Nevermore, nevermore.'

Silently it sits and stares, a haunting, dark refrain,

A symbol of the lost, the mourned, the sorrow and the pain.

What is this creature, black as night, with wisdom to impart,

Forever etched in poetry, and cursed with a broken heart?"

It was on the tip of my tongue, it was the word nevermore that rang a bell in my head, it wasn’t quite chiming though. It was on the periphery of my minds eye, I was pretty sure it was a poem but there was something niggling at the back of my mind. I had watched something recently and that word kept playing over in my head, over and over again.

“Just say the word, and concede, we will leave with your watch and be NEVERMORE,” Dave grinned at his over the top clue his was giving me, it was like he wanted me to succeed which was odd given what was at stake.

I watches as Raven’s head lulled into unconsciousness and my heart sank, at the same time my brain ignited into the answer that Dave was searching for, she was the clue, she was the answer in fact.

“A bird of ebon, speaking words, 'Nevermore, nevermore.'“ I repeated slowly, then I looked across at the mute kid who had saved my life more times than I could ever repay.

“A Raven.” I said, “The answer is a raven.” I looked at Raven, encased in ice and in a bad way. We needed to get her out and we needed to do it now.

Vera let out a high pitched squeal as Dave stood open mouthed and in awe, he rested his hand n the top of his bald head. “I- I don’t believe it, no one has ever got that. My boy, you are a genius!” He started clapping and laughing with sheer joy, grabbing hold of Vera’s hands the two of them danced around like they were the only people in the room, or cave at least.

“I don’t mean to interrupt, but a deal is a deal right.”

"The two of them stopped dancing around and straightened up.

“Yes of course, where are my manners, a deal is a deal.” Dary said before Vera stepped forward and with flick of her wrist and a click of her finger the ice cold pressure in my leg vanished and I stumbled forward. As the ice finished around Raven she slumped forward and I rushed towards her just managing to catch her before she crashed into the ground.

She was freezing cold to the touch, her skin pale and her lips now a deep purple colour.

“Shit!” I said, “And our things?” I looked back down at Raven, “Your going to be ok kid, everything is going to be ok.”

Vera ran to my side with a satchel in her hands, “here are your things. Your weapons are by the fire.” she said delicately, “is she going to be ok?” surprising concern in her voice.

I reached inside and took out a health potion and pulled the cork out of the top before spitting it onto the ground. Tipping Raven’s head back I poured the bright red potion into her mouth until it pooled and spilled down her chin.

“Come on kid, drink it!”

Vera continued to watch on, leaning forward like she wanted to say something but hesitating and stepping away. Dave watched on from afar, he looked just as worried.

“We’ve never killed anyone before, it’s not in our nature.” His voice was filled with guilt.

My own frustration was rising, “Come on kid, drink the potion.” I shook Raven slightly, her eyes closed as if she was sleeping, her head lulled back.

“What have we done Dave,” There was a crack in Vera’s voice as her eyes welled with tears. “We are monsters.”

“You aint going that easy, come on.” I growled, my voice boomed in the cave and a flash of red threatened to engulf me as I could feel myself becoming enraged.

Ravens throat moved as she started to take in the potion and I exhaled in relief. I continued to hold her until eventually all the potion was gone, she still locked like she was sleeping but a peachy colour returned to her cheeks and her purple lips faded into their normal colour. I fetched my hand up to her cheek, resting the backs of my fingers against it, she was warm, there was no signs of the ice she had been trapped in.

Raven sat bolt upright, gasping for air and panting heavily, it startled me but I was thankful that she was ok. Dave and Vera shot back with a shocked gasp but the fear and worry dripped from their faces. Raven continued to cough and splutter as she tried to pull her self free but I held her for a moment.

“It’s ok kid, i’ve got you.” I eased her up and she shot forward with murder in her eyes.

“Woah!” I said, grabbing hold of her wrist and pulling her back as she reached out to grab Vera who looked ready to feint. “Remember what I said, no killing. If they hadn’t of helped us, if hey hadn’t of let us free when they did then they would both be dead.”

Raven spun on her heels and pushed me backwards, her hand signs were moving at a pace I had not seen before, I could not decipher anything she was saying but I just stood there and smiled. It only served to infuriate her more as she continued to furiously sign and pushed me once again before finishing with another double bunny gesture and folding her arm while turning away.

“She will be ok,” I said, turning to face Vera and Dave. “She is understandably a little pissed off, you did nearly kill us after all.”

“Not intentionally,” Dave said, instantly in a defensive kind of way. “If you hadn’t of snook in here, you wouldn’t have triggered Vera’s traps.

By naming Vera I couldn’t help but feel he was deflecting the blame onto us and Vera. Vera didn’t look impressed as she shot a scathing look at Dave who suddenly withdrew into himself and decided to stop talking.

“What my husband is trying to say is that we are sorry, it isn’t in our nature to kill other creatures. My trap wasn’t intended to go that far. Normally those trapped figure out it gets worse if you stop struggling and by the time the ice thaws to a point where they can be free we have already escaped. We didn’t intend for your friend to get hurt, but I am glad she is ok.” Vera looked at Dave before saying, “We both are.”

"Well hopefully you will learn from this, you guys need to stop taking from others what isn’t yours. Wouldn’t it be easier to trade items?”

The two imps both looked at me blankly as if I was speaking another language.

“With what?” Dave said, “We gave everything back to you, we have nothing until we steal from the next people.”

“No more stealing,” I said. “There has to be another way. I reached into the satchel that they gave me, taking out a couple of health potions and three stamina potions and adding them to my inventory. “Here take this, I have taken all I need.” I passed them the satchel leaving the rest of the health and stamina potions, the rusted cleaver and a couple of uncommon weapons that were of no use to me or Raven.

Vera’s eyes lit up as I passed them to her.

“Are you serious?” she said, almost acusory in her tone. “Of your own free will you are giving us these items.”

“Yeah, do with them what you wish, but no more stealing. If you do then I will be forced to come and find you.”

“Of course,” Vera said, she was clutching the satchel to her chest like she was hugging a baby.

“Thank you,” Dave said, “No one has ever given us anything.”

“Consider yourself free,” I said, thinking a reference to a house elf would put me in good staid. Instead they both just looked at me as if I had three heads.

“Well I guess we will be seeing you, Vera, Dave, it has been a pleasure.”

“Farewell,” Dave said, “but tell me what is your name?”

“Silas,”

“Silas,” Vera waver her head in the air as if she could see it in big lights. “Until next time Silas. Make sure to keep your guard up at night, there are plenty of creatures that would gut you like a fish given the chance.”

We picked up our weapons by the fire before I waved them off and we mad our way out of the cave. Raven walking ahead of me, her arms folded. At least we had our things back, that was a win.