Chp 6
Jones was amazed by Zoran's ability to analyse the entire map of the castle and pick out the weaknesses in its defences. Still what he was asking was stretching it.
"We can't reorganise all the patrol routes just to deal with one group who may or may not show up." Jones argued. "This group will exploit any weakness in our defence. If we keep to a linear pattern then we might as well open the gates for them." Zoran countered.
He was getting very frustrated with all the guards lack of enthusiasm. All of them accept for Jones seemed completely disinterested in the safety of their queen. "Even if we did manage to reorganise the patrol routes what difference will that make?" Jones pressed.
"Captain these people are probably watching the castle right now, making note of patrol routes and planning their infiltration. By changing the patrol routes we will force them to improvise. It's better than doing nothing." Jones considered this.
He was suspicious of Zoran. Heck he was suspicious of everything but this man for some reason caused Jones to become very suspicious. There was something about the way he moved, the way he spoke that struck Jones as odd. He seemed be extremely intelligent and dangerous. Judging by the way he spoke about infiltration and security Jones guessed that he must have infiltrated more than a few secure buildings.
This thought made Jones even more suspicious. But Jones had to admit the man was a valuable asset and his logic was sound. But if Jones detected even a hint of treachery then Jones would cut the man down in an instant.
"The queen needs to approve your plan." Jones said reluctantly. "Then we start planning as if she approved the plans." Zoran said.
"He also doesn't like wasting time either." Jones noted.
Meanwhile…
"Do you like him?"
"Anna. I have the ball to organise please leave me alone for a while."
Anna placed her hands on her hips in a huff. Elsa was extremely worried. She was using ever political skill her father had taught her to avoid Anna's questions.
Elsa was cautious about answering. She was nearly certain she did like Zoran, but was very shy about it. This was the first time she had ever been interested in a man and it terrified her. Anna wasn't helping the situation. She was too smart to lie to and would make a big deal out of the situation if Elsa told the truth. So Elsa resolved to avoid the question altogether.
"I wonder what's underneath his hood." Anna pondered aloud. "Anna enough." Elsa said slightly annoyed. "Come on aren't you even a little curious?" Anna inquired. "No I'm not." Complete lie. "Maybe his face horribly scarred like his hand." Anna pushed.
"He probably wears it for practical reasons… Wait! Did you say his hand is scarred?!" Elsa slightly yelped. Her head snapped to face Anna. Anna smirked satisfied. "So you are curious?"
"Slightly." Elsa responded quickly, eager to find out more about Zoran. "What happened to his hand?" "He damaged it with his powers. He can make these cool black flames that aren't actually hot but they wear away stuff. He must have gotten some on his hands."
Elsa gasped. "Oh my, that's terrible." Anna nodded before continuing. "He also lost his parents." Elsa once again gasped. All thoughts of the ball were now forgotten.
"Did he say how?" She asked. Anna shook her head. "No." There was a minute of silence before Anna's face changed comically from a slightly saddened expression to a big mischievous grin.
"So you do like him?" Elsa was quick to contradict her. "No I don't." "Ahh… come on Elsa admit it. Both Kristoff and I can see it clearly." Elsa sat up quickly in shock.
"Kristoff knows!" She yelped then clasped her hands quickly over her mouth. "No way out of it now." She thought. Anna was smiling expectantly.
Elsa sighed. "I may…" Anna's smile got bigger. "Sorta…" The smile grew. "Kinda…" The smile grew. "Like him." Elsa finished, then shut her eyes tightly and pulled away slightly is if she was expecting something to hit her. Anna started bouncing up and down with excitement.
"Ohmygodohmygodohmygod! Elsa that's brilliant. You've finally found someone!" "Shh... Anna." Elsa hushed. She didn't want anyone to hear their conversation. "I'm sorry but Elsa that's really great. You should invite him out somewhere or dance at the ball with him or…"
"Anna. Breath." Elsa said before continuing. "It might be nothing. I don't have to immediately act on it. Now you got your answer so please let me work." Elsa turned back to her books and began scribbling notes into them. Anna actually managed to stay quiet for several minutes.
But peace wouldn't last.
"What do you like about him?"
"Anna!"
Julian stepped off the ship onto the Majula harbour. The actual town of Majula was a fifteen minute walk away. The town was very small and was situated a small distance from a cliff that overlooked the sea and the harbour.
The town itself was only populated by about two hundred people and only had the very basics in shops. Not many people travelled through the town either, it was situated to the east of Carine and was a 6 hour boat trip to Arendell.
Julian and his wife Lucia had moved there when he was eighteen and she was seventeen. Their son Jack had been two at the time. They both preferred the peaceful countryside rather than the bustling city. Julian had changed out of his armour and now wore a simple tunic.
His messy blond hair fell just short of his eyes. His green eyes sparkled in anticipation. "Dad!" The small childish voice made Julian smile. His four year old son ran out of a nearby house. Julian got down on one knee and hugged his son.
The brown haired boy carried a small wooden sword. "Hey, Jack. How are you?" Jack released his father and swung his sword in a laughable attempt to look intimidating. "I've been practicing my sword-fighting. I'm gonna be a knight just like you." Julian smiled. "I'm sure you will. But remember the most valuable thing to a knight isn't his sword."
"It's his honour I know dad. I know." Julian shook his head. "How is your mother?" "She's okay. I think, but she is sad sometimes."
The guilt Julian felt hit him harder than any blow he had ever taken. Just to add to his guilt Jack asked. "Are you staying home forever dad?" Julian looked at his son. "Why did he have to resemble Lucia so much?" He thought as he watched Jacks small green eyes fill with hope.
"I can't. Not yet, but I will very soon, I will." Jack's expression literally ripped his heart out of his chest and smashed it. Julian braced himself because he doubted he would be able to survive facing his wife.
"Come on, Jack. I'm here now and I'll be staying for a few days, then I need to go away for one last trip. I'll be back before Christmas. Afterwards, it'll be just you, me, mom and whichever lucky girl you get to be your wife." Julian smirked at his son's reaction to the last part.
He looked like he had eaten something extremely sour. "Dad, girls are gross." "Mom is a girl. You don't think she's gross." "No mom is nice."
"Then girls mustn't be that bad." Jack shook his head. "No mom is the only nice one." Julian laughed and stood up. The two of them walked to their home. When they reached the door Julian put his finger to his lips to silence his son. Jack nodded.
Silently Julian opened the door to his house.
The house itself wasn't very big. There were five rooms total in the house. A kitchen, two bedrooms a utility room and a small armoury for Julian's armour and weapons. "Jack is not allowed near them until he's older." Is what Lucia had said.
His wife was standing beside a pot that was over a fire seemingly concentrating on supper. Julian snuck up behind her. Her long brown hair looked beautiful in the light of the fire.
Lucia screeched as Julian picked her up and threw her over his shoulders. "Jack that is how you steal yourself a wife. Take notes." Lucia rolled her eyes as Jack laughed. She then spoke.
"Jack, don't take your fathers advice on dating. So my captor what is the ransom?" Julian adjusted her so he was holding her bridal style. Her green eyes were full of amusement and mischief.
Julian seemed to ponder this. Lucia rolled her eyes and kissed him. There was a moment of bliss where Julian thought he couldn't be any happier. Then Lucia pulled away. Julian looked slightly disappointed. Then she whispered.
"Later." He smiled and put her down.
"Now, if you're done let me finish supper before it burns."
Author's notes:
I'm really sorry about the late update. My computer was busted and I only got this chapter finished tonight. As always thanks to all who like my story and support it and I want to hear all my readers opinions. Good or bad they're all welcome. Just no hate mail because people who send hate mail are sad and pitiful creatures. Also thanks to Koalutem because you gave me the idea for the first scene. So once again sorry for the late update and hopefully nothing like this will happen again.
Until next time.
Ninja-Cat Sif
