Chapter 1: Out of the Earth.

Lily Evangeline Rose Darling wasn't exactly the most simple girl in the Enchanted Forest.

She was the fairest, kindest and no doubt, the bravest of them all.

Modest as she was, she never thought of herself as courageous or beautiful.

No matter what she thought, women envied her looks while the men around her would stop and stare as though she was an angel.

But she didn't feel like one. Not this time, anyway.

She looked down on the pebble path before her.

Her inky black dress brushing gently against the blood red rose she held in her hand as walked.

Deep brown hair reached her back , the gentle waves flowing in the wind.

Sighing deeply, she opened the iron gate at the end of the path, it's hinges creaking loudly as she did.

Her eyes mirrored the sky just like the sea, the flecks of light blue shimmered like ripples in the water as she gazed at the sun.

The girl pouted her full-sized cherry colored lips, now staring down upon the smooth gray stone that stuck out of the earth.

There was no engraving, not even names and Lily wanted it to stay that way.

She had always been taught by her mother that those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you even when forget-me-nots have withered.

And Lily will hold on to that forever. Because that's who she looked down upon.

Her parent's names are carved on her heart, not on some old stone.

"Do you want me to say a few words?" A gentle voice asked from behind her.

She turned to see who the voice belonged to.

"Alex." She should have known, his voice was always so soft when he spoke to her. "What are you doing here?"

"When I heard what happened, I asked Robin if I could come and see you. He agreed." He paced over to her and placed a hand around her, looking down at the tombstone with a sad expression.

Lily nodded, knowing Robin Hood was a good man. "How is he, and the gang?"

"They're fine. But what about you? Are you OK?" He asked, his forest green eyes looking sadly into hers.

Alex wasn't the most reliable friend in the world, working for Robin Hood and his gang. Stealing from the rich and giving to the poor.

But they have both been best friends for as long as they could remember.

The only thing that hadn't changed from when they were small were his eyes and his black scruffy hair.

His smile hadn't changed either, it would always comfort her when she was feeling down.

But today, he wasn't smiling, and neither was she.

"No." She admitted, looking back at the stone once again. "They're gone, Alex... What am I going to do?"

Her vision became blurry, and that's when the river escaped. Alex embraced her.

"They're not gone," He stated, wiping her tears away with his thumb. "Remember when my parents died? Remember what you told me, all those years ago?"

She sighed deeply, remembering. "I told you that they would watch over you."

He nodded. "Exactly. And so will yours."

She shock her head. "They took their own lives, Alex... If anything, they were tying to get away from everything. From me."

Alex frowned and looked deeply into her teary eyes. "They loved you."

"Even if they did...I've got nothing now... I feel so lost." She sunk to her knees and placed the rose gently on their grave.

"No." He disagreed. "You still have me, don't you?"

Lily nodded. "I guess..." She stood again, and Alex led her back on the pebble path. "But what happens when you leave? I know the gang won't stay around here forever."

"We'll figure something out." He promised.

Lily knew that tone too well, he wouldn't keep his word, how could he? It wasn't like he was going to give up on his dream; he always wanted to be apart of his gang.

She wasn't about to take that away from him. "No... I'll manage. I'm sure I can do this on my own."

He bit his lip. "You're a good archer, right?" He stated randomly. "Maybe Robin will let you-"

Lily cut him off, knowing where he was going with this. "No way. In case you haven't noticed, I am a girl." She stated.

"I've noticed." He couldn't help but smile a little, and she returned it.

"Good. Then you'll know that being around a gang of boys isn't exactly my idea of managing." She stated.

Alex chuckled slightly, knowing exactly what she was referring to. "Lily, you know that was like five years ago!"

She couldn't help but giggle. "I was eleven!"

Eleven year old Lily ran through the village with a huge grin on her face.

She walked through the bakery where a smell of freshly baked bread filled the air.

It was warm inside, as though she had walked into a hot bath. The early morning light slanted through the window, as the sun started to rise.

The first face she saw was the baker's son.

His short dirty blond hair framed his face, uneven edges sweeping along his cheekbones, bangs obscuring one eye.

In a way, it looked like he just rolled out of bed. It always looked like that.

"Hello, Jack!" She greeted.

The boy smiled back at her, "Hey, Lily. Hiding again?"

She was still grinning widely as she nodded. "Yep! Robbie, Will and Alex invited me to play earlier, do you want to?"

Playing hide and seek was Lily's favorite game ever since Alex introduced her to it six years ago.

Jack sighed. "Sorry, but I can't." Lily pouted slightly.

"Why?"

He gestured towards the bread. "I've got work to do... Dad said that as I'm thirteen now... I'm old enough to work."

She nodded. "Can I help?"

Jack chuckled. "Sure, but you better hide first... I see the seekers are coming this way." He nodded towards the window where three boys were heading her way.

"Oh!" Jack moved aside, so Lily could hide behind the counter, just as the door opened.

Jack greeted them. "Have you seen Lily?" That was Robbie, Lily recognized his voice.

"Lily? Nope." He popped the 'P' and Lily smirked slightly. "She hasn't been here since yesterday."

Will groaned. "OK, I give up. We've been looking for her since god know when!"

Lily knew Will didn't enjoy hide and seek as much as she did, but he would always play just for her. Lily heard the door of the shop shut, and Jack told her to come out.

"What happened?" She asked him, confusion written all over her face.

Jack sighed. "I think they've given up."

Lily frowned, it's not like them to give up on anything. She said goodbye to Jack and ran out of the store. "You cowards!" She shouted after them. "You can't give up!"

"Well, we've found you now." Robbie stated, grinning.

Lily glared at him. "That's not fair!"

"It was just a game anyway." Alex stated. "And besides, we got bored."

Lily narrowed her eyes, but he couldn't take her seriously at her smirk. "It wasn't fair."

Alex smiled. "We were young, it's not like we cared back then."

Lily crossed her arms. "Jack played along, remember?" She answered sadly.

He sighed, remembering the baker's son and the bond he had with Lily, with him. "Lily-"

"I'm sorry... I-I miss him too." She sighed. "Do you think he's still alive?"

Alex bit his lip. "I hope so. I hope Robbie is too."

Jack and Robbie have been missing for two years along with many other boys of the village.

No one ever knew what had happened, but the village would pray for their children to someday return.

Lily had been beyond devastated when she had heard the news.

Alex had stayed by Lily's side for the rest of the day, comforting her.

But the time came to say farewell. "When will I see you again?" A tear slid down her cheek.

He brushed it off once again. "I don't know." He told her, hugging her protectively. "But you have to know that what ever happens to me, you will always be safe here."

"I'm going to miss you, Alex. Say hello to Will for me."

Will had also joined Robin's gang, and Lily hardly ever saw him these days.

She wondered why he never came to visit her either. Alex bit his lip, as though he was hiding something for her, but he nodded nevertheless.

"Of course." He stated, squeezing her hand gently. "I will miss you, Lily."

And that was the last time Lily ever saw Alex Flynn Rider, for her life was about to change more than anyone would ever imagine.