Ex: So I have no idea when I'll finish this chapter, but I want the record to show that I'm starting this on the heels of publishing chapters 6 and 7. I'm not sure if that's for you readers or myself, and I doubt I'll ever know really. Anyway welcome to chapter 8.
Elsa: You sound irritated.
Ex: Mostly tired, I'm actually very happy to be writing again. It helps keep me relaxed in other areas of life. Anyhow, hopefully this chapter will be more exciting than the last. Also thanks PopularDefender for your concern over my health as well as calling me a slacker, that really does motivate me more than you know. Alright we've carried this on long enough, on with the show!
As they moved through the large entry hall of the castle, Elsa found herself once again comparing it to her own castle back in Arendelle. Much like the rest of the city, it was mostly stone, other than the deep red colored carpet that lined the pathways of the castle and the iron chandeliers and sconces on the ceilings and walls. The latter of which provided most of the lighting as they moved through the hallways. In Arendelle nearly all the light in the castle was provided by windows, at least during the day.
Anna too seemed perplexed by the lack of windows. And as they turned into one of the branching hallways and began up a large spiral staircase voiced as much. "There's so little light in here, why not add a few windows?"
"You said this used to be a fortress right Mathias?" Kristoff asked. "That could explain it. Less ways to attack the inside." Mathias nodded in response. They arrived at the top of the stairs, which led to a long hallway with doors lining each side. At the end of the hall was another staircase leading up into a tower. The servant led them to the furthest door on the right before turning around and saying, "This room has been prepared for you Princess Anna and lord Kristoff." He then turned to Mathias and Elsa and said, "Your previous chambers have been prepared for you and the Queen Prince Mathias, up in the tower. I trust you remember the way?"
"I remember where it is." Mathias responded. The servant bowed and responded, "Very good your highness. I shall inform the rest of your guards of the locations and have them bring up your belongings, as well as show them where they'll be staying." The servant turned to captain Reynard. "Please follow me captain." Reynard looked to Elsa, who nodded her approval, before turning to follow the servant back the way they'd come.
"So," Anna said, breaking the silence that had settled over the group, "Why do I feel like nobody is giving us the time of day?"
"I'm sure everyone here is busy with setting up the festivities. This is bigger by far than any gathering we've ever hosted back in Arendelle. I'm sure it takes a lot of effort." Elsa said.
"Maybe," Anna replied. "I don't know though."
"Let's get settled in for now." Elsa said as she turned to Mathias, "I'm sure your father will answer any questions we have later."
"I'm sure." Mathias responded, "Come on, the towers just up those stairs." He pointed to the stairs at the end of the hall. He walked towards the stairs before turning and waiting for Elsa to follow. Elsa reached the end of the hallway where Mathias waited for her. They made their way together up the stairs. When they reach the door at the top, Mathias opens the door and steps to the side, letting Elsa enter the room before stepping in and closing the door behind her.
While Mathias walks to the window and opens the curtains to let in more light, Elsa observes the room. It's not a very large space, limited by the circular structure of the tower. On her left sits a desk against the wall. On the desk there's a small stack of books, a layer of dust gathered on the left of the window is a small cabinet, to the right there's a bookshelf stuffed full. Like the books on the desk, they've gathered a healthy layer of dust. To her right is the bed. A four poster, reasonably sized for two people. On the side of the bed closer to the window is a nightstand with an oil lantern sitting on it. On the side closer to the door is a wardrobe.
After he opens the curtains, Mathias turns around and observes the room. "Hm, just the way I left it." He says, a bit of a laugh hiding behind his voice. Elsa smiles and says, "At least the bed looks maintained."
"Suits me just fine, I'd rather they didn't touch my books." Mathias walks to the desk and picks up the book at the top of the stack, blowing the dust off and flipping briefly through the pages before setting it back down and walking toward the cabinet. Elsa goes to the desk and picks up the book. She reads the title, "Flora and fauna of Arendelle,". She looks at Mathias and asks, "You were reading about Arendelle?"
"Just for the few days before I left. Not much information on Arendelle down here. In fact that's the only one specifically about Arendelle I could find." Elsa set the book down and picked up the next one, "Maps of the northern coasts". The last one on the desk read, "A brief history of the northern wars".
"Did you find anything useful reading these?" She asked.
"Not really. You don't learn much about a person by reading old maps and about how many species of bird inhabit their homeland. Decent pictures of the birds though." Mathias walked over to the bed, sitting down and letting out a sigh.
Elsa joined him sitting on the bed and asked, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine but Anna is right. Something's felt off since we arrived."
"Our welcome hasn't exactly been warm."
"It's more than that. My father didn't seem cold, he seemed distracted." Mathias said before shaking his head. "Maybe you're right and it's just all the festival preparations, I don't know."
"I think it would be best to ask your father exactly what's going on. For now though, let's get settled in and make sure Anna isn't getting into any trouble."
"You're right. Knowing her, she's already begun exploring." They both stood up and left the room, heading back down the stairs and to the room Kristoff and Anna had been assigned. When they arrived they saw a few of the servants and guards that had accompanied them arriving with the belongings they'd brought. One of the guards turned to them as they approached.
"Hello your majesties. Captain Reynard asked me to inform you that he is conducting a brief sweep of the castle perimeter, and will be coordinating with the soldiers here on your protection."
"Thank you guardsman." Elsa said before looking in the room for Anna and Kristoff, only to find neither in the room.
"If you're looking for your sister, your majesty, we saw her on our way in. Her and Kristoff were heading out towards the town." Elsa thanked the guard again and said to Mathias, "You were right, already exploring. Let's see if we can catch up with them."
"With Anna, never and easy task." Mathias laughed.
"I hoped pregnancy would slow her down. Come on."
As another storm began to roll into the mountains outside the Tonitrus capital, A pair of black armored soldiers made their way into the mountain. Following along an old and overgrown trail, one of the soldiers stops to pull his cape further around his shoulders.
"Come on Daniel!" the other guard yells. "We still have a ways to go before this investigation is done."
"Give me a minute Jonas. This armor isn't exactly built for the cold."
"Well then hurry up. The sooner we get this done the sooner we can get back to the warmth of the barracks."
"Yeah right." Daniel finishes adjusting and jogs lightly to catch up to his partner. "With how paranoid the king has been we'll be back on another patrol as soon as we get back."
"All in a day's work for a royal guard, come on." As they keep moving up the path, they hear a sound in the trees to their left. "Did you hear that?"
"It's probably just an animal. Like you said let's keep moving." After another few minutes of walking, the storm finally breaks and rain begins to fall.
"Great, more rain." Daniel says, again pulling his cape further up.
"It's winter, what do you expect? Just be grateful it isn't snow."
"Well with that snow queen from the north coming who knows what kind of weather we're gonna get."
"Careful what you say about her around Prince Mathias. Way I hear it, those who insult her get worse than a little rain if he hears it."
"Ah relax Jonas I'm only joking."
"Joke on your own time and keep your eyes open."
"What exactly are we looking for out here?"
"Anything suspicious."
"That's helpful."
"Quiet yourself." They finally reach the end of the path, ending where it leads into the thicker part of the forest.
"See, nothing out here, can we go back now?" Daniel says.
Jonas scans the treeline for any sign that someones gone in or out of the woods. "I don't see anything. Still, we should keep investigating."
"Come on, look at this path. It's clear no ones been here in months. If we go any further in this you're gonna be dragging me back." Before Jonas can reply, a sound from the woods draws their attention. It's quiet, but undoubtedly the sound of branches being broken.
"What is that?" Jonas said, moving his hand to his sword.
"Probably just another animal. And it sounds like it's deep in there anyway." Daniel replied, however his hand too reached for his sword.
"We should investigate just to be sure."
"Alright fine. If traipsing into those woods to find a deer will make you feel better let's go." They both drew their swords and began to move toward the tree line. As they moved closer, the sound of the branches became louder, as though it was moving toward them.
"It's getting closer, ready yourself." Both men stop and take a fighting stance. The sound continues to move in their direction. As it's silhouette becomes visible, Jonas swears to himself it looks like a man, cloaked in shadow, sprinting towards them. As it gets closer, it begins to let out a horrible scream. Daniel let out a scream of his own, attempting to shuffle back but tripping in the process, his sword clattering to the ground behind him. "What in the-" Suddenly the silhouette stops, freezes in place for a moment, only to let out a different scream and slip back into the woods.
Both men stay frozen in place, breathing heavily and still ready for a fight. Daniel breaks the silence when he scrambles back to his feet and yells. "What in the hell was that thing?!" Jonas is silent for another moment, before he takes a deep breath and says to his partner. "Something we need to report to the king." He sheathed his blade and turned to Daniel to tell him to retrieve his own blade. Before he spoke, his eyes went wide as he looked behind Daniel. Daniel's gaze turned to follow his partners and he let out another terrified scream.
Standing near the edge of the path behind them, holding Daniel's sword it it's mouth by the handle, was a fox. The rain that fell gave it's black coat a stunning shine, and when a flash of lightning lit up over the mountain, it's eyes flashed a deep red. The fox stared at the men for a moment before dropping the sword and baring its teeth in what looked like a twisted smile. Both men let out terrified yells and began sprinting back down the path, leaving the sword and fox behind. The fox watched the men go with a tilt of the head before sprinting into the woods off the end of the path.
Ex: So like I said in the chapter heading, I started writing this right after I published chapter 7. I think it goes without saying that a whole lot has happened in the world since the last time I uploaded.
Elsa: That's an understatement. I thought things were crazy in my world.
Ex: With how this year has gone, weird monsters and magical powers wouldn't surprise me that much anymore. But yeah I'm alive and well and I hope all of the people who read my stories(however many of you are still patient enough to wait for my upload times) are all well also. Anyway the story is definitely moving forward now and the next few chapters should hopefully come quicker than the last few. And yes, I know, we've all heard that before.
Elsa: Seriously though guys, thank you for being patient. This time it really wasn't his fault.
Ex: Well maybe a little bit my fault but still thanks. Anyhow review, follow, possibly favorite? I've said it before but I'm serious when I say I write more often when I get more reviews. It helps to know people are still reading this.
Elsa: We'll see you guys next time!