Author's Note: I realize that I keep making new stories. Well, I'm thinking of disposing of my last story, My Best Friend's Skin because the story isn't really me. You know? Too confusing for my fancy. So I decided that this story would do just fine. MEDIEVAL AGES! I think I can work with this plot better than my last story. Here's the first chapter. Hope you like.
Chapter Title: Woes of Prince James
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine. That will about do it.
In the kingdom of Chrysander, more commonly known as the 'Golden Kingdom', every noble wizard was taught to be proper and respectable people. It was unheard of to be anything less than perfect. The townspeople were expected to obey their king and their king was expected to serve his people. Imagination and silliness were considered intolerable chaos.
In this kingdom located in Northern England, a prince was desperately trying to find himself:
James galloped through the small village of peasants, his robes swishing out behind him. The horse's hooves echoed on the stone street, arousing the nearby commoners from their slumber. He looked back over his shoulder and there in the morning mist were the king's riders, gaining on him.
"Come on Titan!" James yelled, kicking his boots into his horse's sides, urging for him to gallop faster, "Remus, are you alright back there?"
Remus, James' advisor and closest friend, tightened his grip around James' middle, "Please don't do anything rash, sire."
James grinned boyishly and gave Titan another good nudge in the ribs. "Do you see them behind us still?" He asked, with his wind swept, black hair dangling in his eyes.
"No sire. I think you lost them, thank god," Remus replied, adjusting his robes, "I don't see what the point is in running away. Your father will just find you again."
James pulled on Titan's reigns, "Whoa Titan," James muttered, patting the horse's neck, "The point is, my dear friend, that I'm very distressed in walking in his shadow all the time. It's hard to explain. It's almost like I feel--"
"Obligated?"
James smiled, "Exactly."
Titan completely stopped in the middle of the deserted road.
"Sire, if you don't mind me saying so; being king is not suppose to be an obligation, it's suppose to be a new opportunity to do something good for your kingdom," Remus said, his cheeks pink from the chilly, morning air, "I think you'll be a very good--"
"Shh!" James hissed, raising his hand to silence him, "Do you hear that?"
James and Remus' ears perked up to the sound of pounding on the narrow street behind them. Then, five of the king's riders rounded the sharp corner, allowing them to see the two teenagers in the middle of the road.
"He's over there!" The leading rider, Pyros, bellowed to his following men, "After him!"
Titan neighed and threw his front legs up into the air. Remus clung to James desperately, trying to maintain his balance on the horse. Titan galloped down the road as James clung to his mane. Together they leapt over the stone wall that divided the village from the Hidden Forest on the other side.
"Don't these men ever give up?" James yelled, directing his black horse to sprint into the nearby forest.
"Not while your father still pays them," Remus replied, ducking the many limbs that protruded out onto the dirt path.
After several minutes of galloping the winding paths of the thick forest, James slowed Titan down to a steady trot.
"I think we've lost them for good," James said, heaving for breath.
He peered around his new surroundings and realized he had no idea where he was. James looked at Remus and it was apparent that his advisor didn't have the slightest clue where they had ended up either. They couldn't see the sun overhead because the many trees had created a canopy and shaded the forest floor.
"So, what now, your highness?" Remus asked sarcastically, "I can't even see the path anymore."
"Uh, erm…give me a minute to think," James mumbled.
The Prince of the Golden Kingdom certainly knew his own kingdom. James looked left. Was the castle that way? He looked right. Or maybe it's over there. He guided Titan deeper into the trees when suddenly several bright blue pixies sped out of the nearby bushes and startled the horse. Titan jolted then sprinted down the non-existent dirt path.
"Woah, Titan, woah!" James yelled, tugging at the horse's mane while his robes whipped Remus in the face.
Remus squeezed his eyes shut; "I bloody hate horses."
Titan pushed through vines and whirled around stumps, having no intention of stopping any time soon. James yanked on his horse's reigns as he tried to wrench Remus' arms off of his neck.
"Remus! Let go, I can't breathe!" James shouted, although his words were hard to interpret from bobbing up and down on Titan's backside.
Remus only grasped tighter, making James choke for air. "WHOA TITAN!" James bellowed, pulling on Titan's neck.
The black horse obeyed and came to a sudden halt, causing James and Remus to plunge forward off of the horse and land headfirst into the mud. Titan seemed to laugh at them, shaking his head up and down.
"I blame your stupid horse. What beast is scared of pixies?" Remus uttered, scraping mud out of his hair.
"You can say anything you want to about me," James said, standing up and brushing off leaves and twigs from his scarlet robe, "But I'm going to have to ask you not to insult my horse."
Remus rolled his eyes, "Okay, we are deep in the Hidden Forest, the king's men are still looking for you, your horse is scared of pixies AND we are covered in mud. What do we do now?"
James brushed his long bangs out of his eyes; "You're asking me? Aren't you the advisor?"
"I'll tell you what you're going to do," a deep voice spoke behind them. James and Remus turned their heads to see the whole king's Calvary sitting before them on the king's most prized Mustangs.
Pyros cleared his throat and spoke again, in his deep, commanding voice. "You two are going to come with us back to Chrysandor Castle and receive your consequences from King Eric."
James pulled his wand from his front pocket, "I'm terribly sorry to disappoint you Lord Pyros, but I have no intention in returning to my father."
Pyros slowly pulled out his wand and held it loosely at his side, "With all due respect Prince James, I'm under strict order to fetch you unharmed."
James waved his wand as if to prepare for duel.
Lord Pyros shot several embers out of his black wand, "But give me good reason and I will hurt you."
Still covered in dirt, Remus spoke up behind James, "Your majesty, maybe we should just go humbly."
"No," James hissed, his brow furrowed in seriousness; "I will not go back to that damned hell. That will NOT be my fate!"
Titan brayed and kicked out his back legs, desperate to free himself from the clutches of the noblemen that held him by the cord from the saddle. Remus backed up helplessly and defenseless. Servants of the royal family were not required to carry protection and Remus could do nothing if his prince were injured.
"But highness," Remus uttered, a hint of desperation in his voice, "That is Lord Cornelius Pyros, high court duelist--"
"I know full well who he is!" James snapped, keeping his distance from his opponent.
Pyros cleared his throat, "There is no chance on God's green earth a baby-faced prince such as yourself will ever conquer me--"
"Baby-faced?" James ran a hand along his chin, "So glad you noticed."
The rest of the noblemen stood back in an awed silence. Either at James' courageousness or at his stupidity in challenging the top ranked duelist in England. James' wand fired out bits of fire, glittering the forest floor with a shower of bright orange.
Pyros shook his head, "So be it." He raised his wand and yelled, "Expelliarmus!" A jet of bright light zoomed at James and Remus pushed his eyelids shut, praying there would be an heir to the throne after the battle was done.
James stood his ground then shouted, "Protego!" The spell backfired and shot back at Pyros. He stepped to his side lazily and the spell hit the back tree with a CRACK, leaving a scorch mark on the bark.
The battle between the prince and the lord raged on until the sun was overhead and the forest was bustling with life. Squirrels, goats, birds and lizards all waited around the duel, watching the pretty lights shoot back and forth between the humans.
"I have to admit," Pyros said, his forehead drenched in sweat, "You know what you're doing."
"I should," James sneered, sucking in all the oxygen he could, "I've had the proper instruction since the age of four."
Pyros stood to his full height, "Now, this must end. Surrender and I won't have to take drastic measure. Remember, I'm under oath to bring you back to King Eric."
"Drastic measure?" James held out his wand, "It doesn't matter what you do to me, I-AM NOT GOING-BACK!"
"Then I'm sorry it has to end like this." Pyros said. He raised his wand and pointed it not at James, but at Remus.
Remus' eyes dilated twice its original size and he froze. You could see his chest heave with every breath he took and drops of perspiration beaded down his cheek. He glanced from James to Pyros, down to the wand aimed at him.
"Damn!" James cried out in frustration. He threw his wand to the ground and Pyros scooped it up and slid it in his pocket. James walked over to Remus and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry majesty. I didn't mean to ruin your escape--"
"No," James held up his hand, "I couldn't do this without you."
"What in the bloody hell did you think you were doing? TWICE! You have run out of this family twice. Have you no pride? Do you not know where your loyalties lie?" King Eric bellowed, his voice echoing throughout his sleeping chambers.
James rested his head on the back of the armchair he was sitting in, gazing at the coals in the fireplace.
"Boy, you look at me when I'm addressing you!" King Eric snapped.
"Yes father," James muttered miserably.
"Your irresponsible, disorganized, ill-mannered--"
James averted his eyesight to the burning coals again, droning out his father's voice.
'Next time I should jump the high wall located on the west wing of the castle. Then, the Calvary wouldn't be able to follow me if I hopped a raft down the Winding River. I could make my way out to sea and start a new life on the beach shore living as a blacksmith…'
"-and I have decided to betroth you to the Princess of Flanna. I have already signed the treaty--"
"WHAT?"
The king stopped mid sentence and looked at his son, who was now on his feet, blotches of red covered his cheeks from his prior announcement.
"You heard what I said and you know the law. You must be married to a princess by the age of eighteen and you haven't even looked for a bride," King Eric placed his hand on James' shoulder, trying to calm him down.
"You can't do that!" James took several steps back.
He felt like the world of responsibility was closing in all around him. He would have to accept the throne and the obligation to its people. He would have to keep peace within and outside of the Golden Kingdom. People would have a public eye on him all the days of his life. And now he was forced to marry someone he has never seen before.
"I'm sorry James, but the deed has been done. The ceremony will take place on your birthday next month." King Eric said solemnly.
"But I do not love this maiden…this princess!"
King Eric chuckled, "Dear boy, whoever said anything about love?"
James fumed with anger and tore his eyes away from his father. He turned on heel and stomped out of the King's private chambers, the doors slammed shut behind him.
"James-JAMES, wait! Come back!"
But James didn't heed his father's command. He ran to his parlor, his feet echoing on the stone floor, and locked himself in his room for the rest of the night.
BAM!
The two night watchmen that guarded Prince James' room that night winced as another object banged against the rock wall.
Remus walked swiftly around the corner as another BANG rung throughout the corridor. He stopped in front of the two watchmen.
"How long has he been in there?" Remus asked one of the men.
"Since high noon. He's been throwing his belonging around his parlor ever since," one of the watchmen replied.
Remus nodded, "Very well, step aside."
The two watchmen nodded and opened the high oak doors that led into the room. Remus walked in cautiously and caught glimpse of his best friend leaning against the opposite wall, breathing heavily. The moonlight shone through the window casting a light on the broken glass that was scattered on the floor of the living chamber. Pieces of splintered wood covered the Persian rug by the door. Sheets were torn and furniture was turned on its sides.
"Redecorating?" Remus asked, stepping over several pieces of broken glass. James didn't answer. Remus cleared his throat; "King Eric has sent me to fetch you. He would like a word in his private chambers."
"You can tell him to piss off," James muttered. His forehead began to ache from leaning against the hard, rough wall.
Remus smiled grimly, "Begging you pardon sire but I'd rather not."
James turned around to face Remus and his disheveled room. "That's all very well. Just tell him that I must decline his request."
"But your Excellency--"
James snatched up the closest chair and flung it across the room. The old, wooden chair collided with the door with a CRASH and ruptured into ten pieces. His black hair was damp with sweat and his glasses started to fog up from his body heat. James slid down the wall and sat on the cold floor. His elbows leaned against his knees and James rested his head in his hands.
Remus sighed and took a seat next to the frustrated prince. "You know, being betrothed isn't all that bad. A lot of good could come out of it."
"Like what?"
"You could end up marrying quite a lovely girl."
James rolled his eyes, "Yeah, she will be lovely. Divine. Sweet. Breath-taking," he stood up, "But I will not LOVE her."
Remus heaved himself off the ground as well, "Talk to your father. Make him listen. Compromise with him."
"Easy for you to say," James looked around his parlor, "Get a servant in here to clean up."
James and Remus walked out into the corridors and made way back to the King's presence.
"James, are you actually considering this?" King Eric boomed, pacing back and forth next to his bed.
"Yes sir."
King Eric stopped pacing and examined his son through his glasses. "Very well then. I shall go along with this compromise but," he retrieved his wand and pointed it at James, "If you break your promise you WILL marry the Princess of Flanna. Understood?"
James smiled, "Yes sir!"
King Eric sat in his favorite armchair and a servant immediately retrieved his whiskey. "Good. Now off with you!" King Eric waved his hand to dismiss him.
James ran as fast as he could toward the doors and heaved them open. Remus was waiting patiently on the other side.
"What did the King say?" Remus asked eagerly.
James grinned, "I must find a bride before my eighteenth birthday or I will suffer the fate of an arranged marriage."
Remus frowned, "Well, that doesn't give us a lot of time."
James put his arm around his advisor's shoulder, "Lets go lady shopping, shall we?"
Phew! Well, that was an interesting chapter, don't you think so? I guess I will see once you push that little button that says 'Review' now won't I? Next chapter will have the porcelain Lily in it. I decided to do a new view on my story. Instead of James and Sirius attached at the hip, James' best friend is going to be Remus and Lily's will be…dun, dun, dun…Sirius. Wanna see how that will turn out? You'll just have to wait until I update! Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!
Indiangurl