Chapter 8
James paced around the main balcony feeling like a complete idiot. He worried that Elsa was offended by what he said and he didn't know how to make amends. He could hear his mother happily organizing the flower arrangements and wished that he could ask her for some advice. He was deep in thought imagining an alternate life where he wasn't a peasant when he saw Claus and Johannes passing by with bundles of hay.
"Claus!"
The man walked over to James while Johannes waited from afar
"Hi, James how are you?" said Claus while setting his bundle on the ground.
"I'm fine how about you?"
"I am doing grate"
"Well the reason why I called you is because I'm still having problems with the girl"
"What's wrong?"
"I said something stupid how do I fix it?" said James nervously knowing that Elsa was bound to show up at any moment.
"Well I believe you should apologize and maybe bring her some flowers".
"That's a great idea!" "Thank you"
"You're welcome, the village flower shop is closed but there are some grate wildflowers that grow in the forest near the waterfall". Said Claus with a twinkle in his eye
James thanked him one more time before taking off to the forest.
Anna laid in bed thinking about her baby and tracing her growing bump. She was worried about the phantom footsteps that she and Elsa heard earlier.
"Maybe it was a rat or some sort of other pest". She thought
Anna was trying to stay positive but Elsa wasn't, she immediately summoned guards to protect Anna's door and went to notify James and Kai.
Kristoff made it to the castle before sundown and after securing Sven in the stables he made his way to Anna's room. He was surprised to see so many guards including two humongous men at the door.
"What business do you have with Princess Anna?" said one of the guards
"I need to talk to her" said kristoff
"No visitors Queen's orders" said the other guard
"I am her fiancée not some random stranger" said kristoff
The guards squared their shoulders and got closer together. Kristoff was in no mood for a fight especially when he had just finished punching his way out of the north mountain.
Anna heard the commotion and opened the door from the inside .The guards bowed and lowered their weapons
"Let him in"
"My lady the queen said no visitors" said one of the guards in a much nicer tone
"He is my fiancé there is no reason to keep him out" said Anna while extending her hand to kristoff
"So what's up with all the guards?"
Anna quickly explained the situation
"A spy?" "why would anybody want to spy on you?"
"Well it's a possibility seeing as Arendelle is one of the most prominent kingdoms in the North." "But I don't think it's anything to worry about".
"Either way you should be careful there's already enough rumors going around about you". Said kirstoff while touching his inflamed knuckles
"What happened to you? And what do you mean by rumors? "said Anna
"I got into a bit of a fight over some things the guys where saying."
"What where they saying?"
"They said you aren't pure" said kirstoff while looking into her eyes
Anna's muscles stiffened and she looked took her a few seconds to regain her composure she knew that she had to tell kristoff but she never thought it would be so painful.
"kristoff would you still love me if I told that those rumors are true?"
Kristoff balled his swollen hands into fits. They hurt and felt like the skin was going to tear at his knuckles but the shear anger was keeping him from feeling anything
"Who was it?" he said between clenched teeth
"Hans" whispered Anna while her eyes filled with fresh tears
"Anna why did you keep this from me?" he said while trying to keep his composure
"There's more… I'm pregnant" said Anna while her tears streamed down her face
"Dammit! When the hell where you planning on telling me!" "The engagement is off I don't want anything to do with you!"
The guards opened the door because of the commotion and kristoff stormed out with ought another word.
Elsa was in her office with kai. They had waited for James for well over half an hour but he was nowhere to be found.
"Where is James?" said Kai
"I don't know, I wanted him to be here but I guess he went home" said Elsa while pacing
"We are going to have to take measures without him"
"Very well then I think we have to close the gates and keep the guards around the castle until we know if this is a real threat".
"But your highness closing the gates would cause panic in the village".
"If I leave them open we are going to be dangerously exposed".
"You are right in that case I can summon the royal army and make sure the village and castle are under surveillance".
"I would also appreciate if you could task one of your trusted coworkers to keep an eye out for inside jobs".
"Your grace I could do that myself"
"No that would be to obvious everybody knows that you and your family are very close to us ,they would never let their guard down around you."
"Well then I think I do know a young man who would be fit for the job".
Kai summoned Johannes
The tall young man with long blond hair that cascaded to his neck and big blue eyes seemed very nervous when he walked through the door.
"your grace" said the young man as he bowed down
"Hello Johannes ,I have summoned you to ask a favor"
"of course I would do anything"
"I would like you to report any kind of rumors that you may hear from the other servants or villagers." "you are to report at my office every evening and tell me what you have heard."
"On my honor your highness"
"Thank you very much young man, I will increase your pay for this help."
"You are to kind your grace" said Johannes with a smile.