Editor's note: Sorry it's been so long since an update. It's been a long week.
Chapter 9: A voyage to remember
James finished packing his bag and left his room. It was about 6 PM. He found it better to travel at that time and get as far as he could as there was very little traffic, unlike the daytime where there was traffic. As he was walking down one of the massive halls to the front door, he was thinking of all the possible suspects he could think of. He didn't, however, notice Elsa walking around the corner reading some paperwork she needed to sign in her study.
Elsa left the council room yawning with a pile of papers in her hand. "This is going to take me all night to finish them by the next meeting tomorrow!" whined Elsa in her head. She started reading the one on top to be able to just sign it when she got to the study. She knew the castle by heart and knew when and where to turn. She didn't, however, know that James was right around the corner lost in thought. BONK! As they walked into each other, Elsa fell backwards while James just lost his balance. Out of reflex James tried to catch Elsa but didn't get his balance yet and was pulled forward. James ended up on top of Elsa after the fall. Elsa blushed and James scrambled to get off of her. James hurriedly helped her up and bowed saying "I'm terribly sorry Your Majesty." Elsa not mad about being hit, got mad at that "ELSA! Call me Elsa. You did fine on the roof!" Elsa said through gritted teeth. "Slip of the tongue Your majesty, won't happen again." James said calmly. "My friends call me Elsa; you are my friend, why do you insist on not calling me by my name?" Elsa asked. "Do your servants call you Elsa? Including the ones you became friends with?" James asked. "When they're off duty." Elsa replied. "Exactly. When on-duty they are formal. Like me, only I'm ALWAYS on-duty." James said. Elsa said "You can't possibly be on-duty all the time! You need to take breaks!" Elsa said. "Why? Never taken one yet, won't start now. Which reminds me" James said as he bent down, collected Elsa's papers and handed them to her, and grabbed his own bag "I must be leaving. Have a good night your Majesty." With that, James left. Elsa just shook her head "Somebody has got to get that man to take a break." Elsa thought. Just then Elsa got an idea and smiled evilly. "And I think I know just the person." With that Elsa walked away whistling a merry tune.
James walked out of the Kingdom and set forward North-east where the village where the monster was first seen. He wasn't really thinking about anything at this time. On long journeys, he likes to let his mind wander for a bit to make the walk a little less tedious. Without intending to, his mind drifted back to the events that happened back at the Palace with Elsa. Why this woman was so interested in James calling her Elsa was beyond his understanding. He doesn't get close to people easily, he's like a nomad, and when people try to force themselves into a close relationship with him, he tends to pull away. Elsa wasn't the first one to be like this, although, for whatever reason, Elsa was the one that concerned him the most.
James doesn't get close because he can't stay in any one place too long. People start disliking him after a time, typically because of his powers, they are so destructive. He has been chased from city after city, so he's learned to move out before that point happens. His teacher tried helping him, but he also only wound up being chased out as well for being a friend to him. James sighed. He wished Elsa would let it go.
While lost in his thoughts, a guy in a white cloak and hood ran past him almost running into him. James saw this, and falling into curiosity, ran after the guy. After a minute of running, James was beside him "Why are you running?" James asked. Before he answered, James noticed the guy was a good three feet shorter than him. "Because bad men are chasing me." Said a voice that belonged to a child. James lifted his hood over his head and said "Show me these men, I'll stop them." James said. He hated when people picked on little kids. The kid pointed behind him and there were about 6 men chasing. James halted and drew his sword. James pointed his sword at the men and yelled "If you know what's good for you, BACK OFF!" The men chuckled and drew their swords. Two men rushed him. James took a quick step back leaving a foot out tripping one of them, and used his sword to deflect the sword of the other one and used the hilt to smash it into the guys face leaving him unconscious. The man he tripped tried to get up but was met with James's hilt to the back of his head leaving him unconscious. One man tried to rush him alone and lunged at James. James sidestepped the lunge and twirled his sword catching his attacker's face. The man fell to the ground screaming in pain as his face was torn open. Two more people came up, although they didn't rush the attack like the other three, they circled around him to try and flank him. "Good. They're learning. This makes it more fun." James thought as he smiled. The one in front of him lunged at the same time the one behind him lunged. "Never mind." Thought a disappointed James. James quickly stepped to the right at the last second and the two stabbed each other, and they fell to the ground dead.
The last one dropped his sword and ran. "Not so fast." Thought an aggravated James. He opened his hand and a fireball appeared, he shot it at the man, it blew up right before him launching the man on his hands and knees. James ran over to him, grabbed him by the throat and asked "Why were you chasing that boy?" "He's no boy. He's a monster-maker. He created a terrible monster a few nights ago and used it to terrorize the villages before it made its way to Arendelle." The man replied. James eyes widened as he turned around looking for the boy. He was gone. James put his sword in its sheath and let go of the man. He then held out his hands and fire streams shot from them launching him into the sky. He searched the area looking for the boy with no luck. He turned back for Arendelle.
