James sat irritably on the ground. Stupid girls. He never understood his uncle. Hans had been another adoptive father to him. Taking the young boy in as his brother had. It was not such a peculiar practice in the Southern Isles. After all, betrayal and murder ran rampant, so it was only natural that someone take in the orphans.
This time, however, the adoptive parent was a bit... distant.
The return of the infamous Hans Westerguard, King of Arrendelle had certainly raised eyebrows. Many had long suspected his role in the death of King Olaf, and Archer's passing was a little too quick to be incidental. Nevertheless, years passed before the wayward ex-prince had made his way back home. He was almost too late.
The Southern Isles had long been a breeding ground for political warfare. Assassination, betrayal and scheming took place on a regular basis. When James tried to assume power, he was challenged by a pair of his uncles. Their point being thus; because he was not a blood heir, nor of proper age, they should rule in his stead. A problem easily remedied if Princess Sophia would kindly engage him.
James swore under his breath. Women! Why did his uncle bother?!
Oh, it was no secret what had drawn away the Dark Hand of the king. Olaf and Archer had both found Hans to be a sneaky, if not trust-worthy Hand. (To be fair, a prerequisite for being the Dark Hand was sneakiness, and most were generally untrustworthy.)
Once more, though, the same problem: women.
Elsa. Boooo!
The reclusive ice queen had attracted the Black king by doing little more than existing. So entranced was he by her existence that he had sailed the seas, braved impossible situations and successfully faked his death several times in order to secure her. What made her so special?!
"Girls are lame," James pouted He was aware that they had practical uses, but honestly, they weren't particularly skilled soldiers, oftentimes more worried about feeding their families than the war effort. Whenever the young prince complained, his uncle turned adoptive father simply smiled and told him to wait.
On what? Some distant princess in Arrendelle? She was spoiled! Whereas he had learned how to ration food, and fight for his way of life, she had lived a domesticated life of tranquility, learning about impossible novelties like 'diplomacy'.
He and his adoptive uncle had been fighting for their lives; facing constant danger, sickness and starvation. And the princess had stayed, safe and sound with her adoptive mother, eating cake and hugging. How dare they!
And now, this... Sophia didn't even have the decency to show up! She was supposed to be here! One job, the one job she had and she couldn't be bothered! Ugh! Women!
And what was the deal with this fox hunt?! They were extinct! Had been for years! Everyone knew that! Yet Hans had declared a hunt. And his other uncles had agreed to it! WHY?!
James took a calming breath. Hans had taught him self-control. "A frozen heart is a heart of cold clarity" and all that. He needed it now. There was so much that he was missing out on. Seriously, it's not like Hans declared this hunt solely for the purpose of reuniting with his wife, right?
"Oh, he better not have!" Growled the prince.
Enough sitting around, he decided. He rose and took off. He was done sitting around feeling sorry for himself. His uncle, during the Great Freeze, had taken care of everyone. As a matter of fact, once the murder charge was dropped, it appeared as though Hans was a great guy all-around as far as Arrendelle was concerned. James had learned to take care of his subjects much the same way. Once this legendary creature was in the bag he would make sure his people were saved, without or without some bratty princess!
As he walked the streets, James felt himself growing more and more frustrated with Sophia. Although Uncle Hans had never said the words aloud, it grew apparent over the years that during the Great Winter, the Southern Isles prince was less than pleased with the Arrendelle royalty; Anna for abandoning her duties and Elsa for making the mess in the first place. James understood that. Perhaps, he thought, only men should rule. After all, what did the women contribute? They didn't fight, and they were unwilling to scheme. Bleh. All they did was dress up and talk. He would have no need for such things. When he was king, he would rule wisely, without getting distracted by his personal feelings!
He would kill and kill and kill until his enemies were all dead. And he didn't need no girl for that!
But first, he had to get lucky, and if the last few years were any indication, he had no shot at all. He walked through the village, seeing the damage the war had done and swore he would find that fox, knowing full well, that was unlikely at-
"Yip!"
He looked down to see a golden tail caught underfoot and fearful eyes looking up at him.
"Oh! You are so dead!"