Fancy Meeting You Here (James)

[James Florian]

James nodded when Grove said the best plan was to basically go with his gut when he was older. It was a good idea, and no doubt it was going to be one of those trial by fire kind of things. Hopefully at worst he would have to deal with a small campfire rather than a raging inferno when it came to this idea. Though now that he thought about it there had been no other real plan that would've worked other than trial by error, after all people changed and weaknesses were forged, plans had to be changed to account for this. However James already knew of one constant that would be there. "You're right, but you should know you're the first one I'm going to name when I have to chose." He said with a small smile. Or maybe he would put his name a little farther down the list for Grove's sake. After all the closer your name was to the top the longer amount of time you had to spend at the castle with the first name living there practically year round. As much as James thought he was going to need his friend, he didn't want to confine him to the same four walls he had been confined to. So a little bit farther, towards the end so he could legally seek counsel from him, but not steal the woods from him. Certainly that was the best plan.  

James smiled when Grove swore that he would do anything for him. "Yeah I know. Don't forget I've made the same promise as well." He added with a small laugh as he remembered all the foolish little oaths they made as kids like all childhood friends do. However unlike others who made these promises and eventually drifted apart, the prince had no plans on doing that anytime soon. Sure they might be like oil and water when it came to personalities, but they completed each other. It was an opposites attract kind of thing. (However James kind of had a feeling that another reason might just be that the only other kids they really knew around their ages had been each other.) Regardless though the both of them knew that they would be there for each other. James would do whatever his friend needed because Grove would do the same. It's too bad not to many of these types of friendships existed here at Seacombe, being confined to certain boxes tended to draw some deep lines in the sand. Good thing though that the two of them built a sturdy bridge for them to cross back and forth over. 

Feeling immensely better now that he was no longer sobbing his eyes out, James carefully pried himself out of Grove's embrace and sat there awkwardly rubbing his now cold arms and said "Thank you though. I don't think anyone else would've let someone sob into their shoulders like a little kid." James said with a small, awkward laugh. He reached up to wipe the last remnants of the tears off his cheeks, though his eyes remained bloodshot and the salty trail was easily distinguishable. He sniffed quietly a he tried to fix his shirt in a way so that the few tears that did land on it was hidden. As he did this one of the shirt pockets became unbuttoned and a small red figure fell out and onto the ground where it wobbled for a moment until it came to a rest lying faceup towards the sky. James reached down and picked it up from where it lay with a curious expression on his face. He rotated it between his fingers with a small smile on his face as he recognized what it was. It was the red soldier, the one who was made to look like him. He hadn't seen this thing in years. His mother must've tucked into one of the folds of the shirt or a jacket pocket before he left and when he got here and all his outfits suddenly changed to fit in here, it went with it. "I thought I lost you." He muttered quietly as he put it once more again in his pocket with the little painted face with dark brown eyes, milk white skin, and raven colored hair face towards the left as he stood with a sword at the ready, prepared to face any dangers. It was the warrior everyone hoped James would become, and now he was ready to turn that anger and fear he felt for so long into what would be needed so that he could become the little man who was carved all those years ago. With Grove's help James will be able to vanquish the Blue rebel once final time.

---

The soldier made another appearance because my Creative Writing teacher wants me to work on incorporating symbolism into what I write and we kind of figured out that it's hard for me to intentionally add something when I'm not totally into writing whatever I was told to do. So I figured putting it into her because it made sense and the soldier was kind of already a symbol. She's not going to be reading all the post, I'm just going to show her the first appearance of the soldier in the flashback and the little paragraph there. Also if this idea/exercise works the soldier should show up somehow whenever James has been or needs to be brave. Not sure if it will or not. Purposely including literary elements seems to be my downfall. 

[Grove]

Grove knew that Jim would always rely on him. They had been friends for too long to be anything other than confidantes. It seemed right that Jim might still come to him for advice when he was a king, but to be chosen was something else entirely. "I'm honored, Jim," Grove said softly, too full of happiness to speak louder. He would do his best to help Jim always, no matter what they might face. They would always be friends.

Grove was serious about his promise. His feelings towards Jim were different now than when they had been children playing together in the woods. He loved Jim as a man who wouldn't break such a promise. They had both broken many of their oaths from their days when they played together. This time it felt different. This time is was different. "I know, but it's different now. This is a man's promise, not a silly boy's oath. I would do anything for you, Jim. Anything. I mean it." The love he felt for Jim was strong and intense. It was a love that bordered very strongly on something that was more platonic. But Grove kept that to himself because all that Jim could be right now was his friend and that's all that Grove could ask for.

Grove shrugged. "I'm not just anyone," he teased Jim softly. He tried to help Jim get his shirt but then something fell out of his pocket. It was a toy that neither boy had seen for a very long time. It was the King James soldier piece. "Looks like you'll need an army to go with that," he suggested, already planning on what pieces to carve. He could whittle Jim a new army. An army that would be appropriate for the young man away at school.

[James Florian]

"Aw don't act like you didn't know I was going to do it." James teased lightly, but he didn't really mean anything by it. The Prince would be a fool if he didn't chose the one person who knew him even better than himself sometimes to be an official adviser. After all that was the whole points of friendships. There was always someone there to help you when the going got rough, it's just when one of those friends were a future king things got a little more fancier when they grew up. "You know however if I do that, you're going to have to accept a title, right?" James said looking over at his friend. It was the law, the king could only legally seek council from those with at least the rank of a baron. (Some silly rule created by Great-Great-Great-Great Granddad Wilhelm on his father's side because he didn't like the common people.) After thinking for a minute James added, "I mean it doesn't have to be huge like a Duke or an Earl, but maybe like a Count or a Baron? That way we wouldn't have to worry about those foolish pigs breathing down our necks and you won't necessarily have to give up the forest. You can even make up the title if you want. It just has to sound realistic." He said with a light laugh, given some of the titles his extended family paraded around with, keeping it realistic would hardly be a challenge for Grove. 

When Grove vowed, as a man, to always be there for Jim, the raven haired lad reached over to hug him one last time. Why? Because no matter what he said, it wouldn't even come close to what this embrace said. He also whispered, "And I'll always be there for you until the end of time. Even beyond that if I could." He then let go of his friend, remembering that Grove might possibly be overwhelmed by the sudden action. After all he had grown up with seven men, James was always around his mother. Which had the unintended consequence of the Prince being an emotional lad rather than a stoic one like Grove was. The prince clearly had no idea that Grove may actually have a crush on him, and also he had no idea that this conversation that the two of them were having right now was actually planting the seeds in his heart that might possibly one day bloom into him having a man crush of his own. However no doubt in order for that to happen it was going to need some more nutrients, or more reasons for James to possibly fall in love with his best friend. There wouldn't be any rush as well, the two of them had their whole lives ahead of them as well. There would be plenty of time for the lovey-dovey stuff to happen if it was going to. 

James suddenly felt embarrassed as he remembered that Grove was there as he tucked the little toy away. After all he was seventeen years old, the days of toys were far behind him and yet here he was carting around a little miniature version of himself. If anyone else saw it, no doubt they would make fun of him. With cheeks red with embarrassment, James stammered trying to explain it away,  "I didn't... My mother must have placed it... It's been years since I've even seen this thing..." Needless to say, it didn't really work. James sounded like an idiot who carried toys around with him in shirt pockets. What a great way to start off this whole new school thing. However what really tied James' tongue into a knot was Grove's offer to carve a new army for the red solider. "No Grove, you really don't have to. It's just a toy after all." It was a nice offer and the little kid that was in the Prince, since after all he was Snow White's kid, kinda really wanted to take Grove up on that offer, but again he was a nearly grown man. Admitting to his friend that yes he wanted to see what Grove would come up with would be more embarrassing then crying into his shoulder over something that happened ten years ago. Which honestly didn't make any logical sense to him, but for some reason that's his brain believed. The human brain is strange wouldn't you agree?

[Grove]

"Aww Jim," Grove groaned. He didn't want to have a title. He didn't want to have to take care of a large estate because then he'd have to take care of the people that came with the estate. "Do I have to have a title?" he asked. "Can't I just be Master Dwarfson or something? I don't want a title," he grumped, very unhappy at the thought. "Can't you change the rule? It's not like people don't know we've been friend since you were a baby." It was a stupid rule in his opinion. That was too much power and then he'd be important and wouldn't be able to just carve things like he wanted to. He'd have to decide how much to tax people. And he'd have all kinds of social expectation like marrying well. The more he thought about it the more awful it got.

Grove knew that Jim was expressive. His face always spoke volumes about what he was thinking. And he was always quicker with actions than with words because they meant more. When Jim hugged him Grove wasn't too surprised and he knew that the affection between them was greater than any words either of them could say, so he hugged Jim back tightly. "I know."

Grove smiled gently as Jim got flustered about his little soldier toy. Grove didn't care one way or another if Jim had packed it himself or if his mother had. It's not like Grove hadn't brought his own little doll from home. It had been a small bit of comfort in a new and strange place. He shrugged. "You know I like to whittle anyway, Jim. And every good soldier needs an army. One lone soldier won't make much of a difference." Grove took the soldier from Jim, examining it carefully, then tucked it back into his shirt pocket. "I brought my doll from home too," he confessed. "It helps sometimes when I'm homesick to just look at it or to hold it."

[James Florian]

"I wish I could Grove, but it's one of those untouchable ones." James explained with a regretful shake of the head when Grove asked if he could change the law. Although as King, James would have the ability to redo a good portion of his country's laws as he saw fit, there was a select few that couldn't be messed with. Mostly they were just the ones that basically dictated how the country would be run; there would be a monarchy, the throne went to the eldest male in the royal family, and of course the king could only seek council from titled members of society. Even though James' ancestor created the law to avoid his subjects it was still used by the barons and dukes to keep the king on a leash of sorts. The idea was that he couldn't be influenced by "radical ideas," but there was an obvious loophole, make whoever you wanted on the list a royal and poof you have a new council member. Not to say there was other ways to get around the law, but that was basically the only way to do it legally and keep the lesser royals happy. Not an ideal situation for the friends, but it easily could have been nothing.

"You have to be a Baron at least too, I wish there was something I could do, but with that whole Magna Carta business going on in England they have been keeping a closer eye on us trying to find an opportunity to impose something like that on us. I'm not going to give them any more power than they already have Grove, especially not those power hungry donkeys from my grandmother's reign. The kingdom would go to hell if something like that were to happen." He said the last part with gritted teeth, he hated that he had to play by their rules, but it was for everyone's sake that his family did it. If it protected the citizens from the greedy clutches of the dukes and earls then by god it was worth it. Sure it was a pain, but definitely worth it.

"However I can make it so you’re a baron or whatever you prefer to be called in name only. All you have to is show up at the castle a couple times every year and I’ll take care of all that other political stuff for you.” James said with a small shrug. He had been to enough of the council meetings to knew what needed to be done. It would be easy, since James planned to allot the part of the forest where Grove lived as the land he ‘governed.’ Life really wouldn’t really be that different for him actually, he’ll just get a little more money and people will be required to show a little more respect to him. Plus Grove’s family will get what James always thought they deserved from the day they agreed to give his mother sanctuary those two decades ago. A royal title. After all both generations had gone above and beyond what anyone else would’ve done for the royal family, it only seemed fitting that they finally be rewarded for their kindness.

“Don’t you forget it either.” James said with a smile as Grove reaffirmed what they knew ever since they were boys running around in a forest. If one of them fell down, the other would be right there to help them back up. They were best friends, ‘cousins,’ and even at times they viewed each other as brothers, very few bonds could ever run that deep. Other friendships could be made, but for the most part they broke far too easily, a little spat was sometimes enough to drive a chisel between even the seemingly closest of friends, not these two though. Yes they may get into an argument, after all they were only human, but no doubt by the end of the day the two of them would be laughing about whatever got them worked up in the first place. Also by attending this academy together, their bond has truly transcended time, but they didn’t need a school for that. The two of them knew straight from the moment they clasped their hands as babes, that they would be there for each other until death forced them apart. Though no doubt James and Grove would find a way to defy that too. Friendships like theirs had a funny way of working like that.

“It’s not a doll, it’s a soldier.” James quietly grumbled in protest without really thinking. It had been a small pet peeve of his when he was little whenever someone called the soldier set dolls, which they most clearly were not. Dolls were playthings little girls toted around in their arms, all dressed in satin and trimmed with lace, while the red soldier was something clearly designated for a boy. It would be quite awkward for James to carry it around like a baby since after all it was smaller than his thumb, and no dressmaker had been hired to design it’s outfit since the carver had just painted it on along with it’s features. No the soldier was not a doll. It had never been a doll, and it never would be. Regardless of what the disapproving and cooing voices claimed it to be.

“Grove you don’t have to go through all the trouble, it’s just a little toy and I’m pretty sure my mother probably has the rest of the set hidden somewhere. Besides I’m seventeen, I don’t need a child’s plaything anymore.” He said with red cheeks as the lumberjack inspected the tiny version of the prince. Although he was quite curious as to what Grove would come up with since James knew that he was the best carver the prince would ever know, he still felt that he needed to at least protest Grove putting all that time and effort into such a project. Legally James was a man, and men don’t have toy soldiers lying around. Those were for boys. It was embarrassing that he had it. Though maybe Grove was right, maybe it would help ease the homesickness he felt. After all it had a huge connection to home, his parents had given it to him when he was little as a gift, he had plenty of memories sitting on either the floor of his room or the library playing with the set, and it was also a symbol of the dreams everyone had of the lad the prince would grow to be. Was it a bad thing though that James had no idea if he had fulfilled the expectations everyone had for him? He didn’t think he had, but could he be wrong?

[Grove]

Even the idea of being a baron in title only was still an awful idea. The people of the court would get ideas about him and he'd have to wear the fancy uncomfortable clothes that he hated instead of the comfortable clothes he could move in. Grove frowned. "The whole court will be after me to marry one of their daughters," he said uncomfortably. He just wanted to hide in the woods with the fathers and make furniture for people. Beautiful furniture and not talk to people unless he had to. And then an even worse thought entered his mind. "I'll be Baron Birch. That sounds awful, Jim. Awful. Can't I just unofficially advise you?" Anything would be better than being called by his actual name.

Grove chuckled at Jim's grumblings about his toy. "I know," he said softly. "You had your soldiers and I had my doll." The lopsided doll that his fathers had all had a hand in making. It had somehow managed to survive all these years in its little woodsman clothes and hat. He had liked to sleep with it when he was a boy and now it was a comfort from home. It was a reminder of the little family he had left waiting for him.

Grove shrugged. Making the soldiers wouldn't be a problem. It would be kind of fun to have an actual purpose for his little whittling projects. And he could always use human models for inspiration. "Well they don't have to be toys. They could be...knick knacks." Grove shrugged. He didn't really understand Jim's embarrassment, but he was doing his best to try and shrug it off. "I like whittling and carving anyway, Jim. It might help to have an actual purpose for once."

[James Florian]

James knew that Grove wasn't all too keen on receiving a title, but as far as Jim knew there really wasn't an obvious way around it. He couldn't mess with the law without making a lot of powerful people upset only because they would "lose" their influence on the sovereign. (Like James was ever going to listen to them in the first place.) However he knew how greatly the political balance of his homeland depended on relations between the crown and the cousins. If they broke away for whatever reason the loss of their lands, alliances, and resources could spell disaster for everyone if they were important enough. In one of the few lessons where it was just James and his father, the king had greatly detailed the delicate scales that kept everything in balance. The Crown gave the dukes and earls power, or at the very least the illusion of it, while they gave the crown agriculture grown on their lands and soldiers in times of war. Somewhere along the way the exclusive right to be a legal adviser became part of the deal. Florian had to deal with it, and in time James would too. No matter how greedy or dastardly the prince saw his future advisers. That way everyone was kept happy and when everyone was happy there was peace.

James thought for a moment before he said with a frustrated sigh over how complicated the legal system was "I can try to look for a loophole in the law. However I'm going to warn you, those devils are not going to be pleased, Grove." He closed his eyes trying to remember the exact wording of the bill. The most obvious plan James saw was rather risky, but plausible. Perhaps when he was king he could either arrange for Grove to come to the castle, or maybe he could go out the cottage and consult the lumberjack on whatever project that was concerning him. He knew that maybe the idea would work if Grove came to the castle, he knew the back halls fairly well as well as being aware of the presence of some hidden passageways from the King's chambers to other parts of the castle. (And no before you asked, Florian did not use them.)  The forest on the other hand would be a tad more difficult because although the Queen and Prince were quite easily able to plan an escape into the forest, the king on the other hand was not. Running a kingdom was a full time responsibility so it was harder for him to find the time to take a break. James could only remember only a handful of times that his Father accompanied the pair on a trip to the cottage, and for the most part they happened when he was really little. Not to mention there was somebody always with the king, it would be difficult to discuss confidential information without have some bribed ears overhearing. Difficult, but not impossible.

As for Grove's chief complaint as to why he shouldn't have the title of Baron, James chuckled even though the lumberjack was being serious. "Grove, these same men have been badgering my father for seventeen years for a betrothal between me and their daughters, yet you don't see me married off. You'll be fine, especially since the monarch has to approve the engagements among court members." He said with a reassuring smile, if Grove had to take a title, if the redhead was forced into a engagement, James could just swoop in with his big red veto button. Unless of course Grove truly wanted to marry the lass, if that was the case James would throw away the button. After all his parents were a case of meeting in a royal court, falling in love, and living happily ever. (Since after all, they knew each other before Florian scaled the courtyard wall.)  

"Also don't forget you get to chose the name you go by once you receive a title. You could be Baron Birch, or Sir Dwarfson just like I could be King James or maybe King Henry because it's my middle name. You'll have options Grove." He said as a gentle reminder that Grove could call himself whatever he wanted. The catch was that it had to already be somewhere in your legal name, but everyone knew Grove by his nickname already. Very rarely was he ever called Birch anywhere anymore. 

James smiled at the memory of Grove's preferred plaything when they were little. "You still have that after all these years?" The prince asked with an expression that appeared to be of both amusement and disbelief, realizing a little too late how ironic that statement was figuring since the prince was the one carrying a toy soldier in his pocket. The homemade doll was similar to James' stuffed horse when he was little. Neither boy could really fall asleep without their comfort item and they often made an appearance in their everyday play. Well maybe the horse didn't appear as often as the soldier set, those were by far James' favorite, but whenever the little woodman needed a trusty steed, the toy wasn't too far out of reach. James thought that maybe the toy had been packed away somewhere when Grove began to grow his beard, or maybe it became too worn and threadbare to continue to be played with so it was mercifully put to rest. At least those fates were better than the one the horse met. One night James went to bed with it -he was still a kid at this time- and when he woke up it was gone. Simply vanished into thin air. Although nobody would come clean, James had figured out that one of the servants was sent in to take it from the lad while he was sleeping on the King's orders since in his father's eyes it was time for James to grow up. He never had confirmation of this though, just whispered rumors he overheard as he searched the castle for it. 

The soldiers though he got to keep oddly enough. Apparently the little army would help James to become a man in his father's eyes. 

Finally James conceded when Grove made the argument that they would be just little knick-knacks. However he didn't make it sound like a yes for his pride's sake, but instead merely an acceptance of sorts. Which was completely different that approving for the record. "You aren't going to take no for an answer are you?" He asked with an eyebrow raised, and a small smile. He wanted to see what this "purpose" that Grove was speaking of. What the end result was going to be however, miniature versions of his friends, was definitely not one of the possibilities though, that was bound to be quite a surprise for the prince.

"You know that's not true though, you may not realize it, but all of your projects have a purpose." James said out of nowhere after thinking for a moment. "Just think of it for a second, yes maybe it's clear like it's something that's needed or it's going to be a gift. However there's also the ones you make just to beat back boredom or improve your skills." He finished with a small shrug, it seemed to be James' personal mission to combat whatever pessimistic mood Grove appeared to be in. Or at least that's how it looked based on this conversation. 

 

[Grove]

Grove was pretty unhappy about this whole thing. He wanted to help advise Jim if that's what Jim wanted, but he didn't want everything else that came with it. Women already looked at him like they wanted something more. And occasionally some of the men too. Grove couldn't imagine how much worse it would get once he had a title. Not to mention that he would actually have to talk to a whole lot of other people and learn everything about how the court worked, not just what he knew to get by on the rare occasions he spent time in the palace. It would be uncomfortable at best, but he would try for Jim because Jim wanted him there to advise him.

"Yeah, okay," he mumbled unhappily. He sighed heavily. "My fathers will be thrilled," he said with dread. And they should too. Thier only child, a boy reared in the forest, was going to be given a title and was a favorite of the king to be. Anyone would be thrilled to be so thrust into such grandeur. Everyone except for Grove, who would bear it only for his best friend.

Grove nodded. "Yeah." Of course he still had his doll. His parents had never taken anything away from him that he loved. That wasn't how to be a man. They encouraged him to do different things, but they never discouraged anything that he enjoyed. Grove put his doll aside when he didn't want to play with him anymore, but he didn't get put away somewhere. "His beard's looking a bit worse for wear and he could use a new set of clothes, but he's still around." Mostly the poor doll was collecting dust, but he was there and that was the important part.

Grove shrugged, ducking his head so that Jim wouldn't see his grin. "Not really," he agreed. He wasn't going to take no for an answer because it would be too fun to make Jim a new little army. And he already had the idea in his head. He was going to make them whether or not Jim wanted him too.

"I don't mean that," Grove told Jim thoughtfully. "I just mean that I'll have a thought out purpose when I start to carve, instead of letting the wood shape itself. I'll be shaping it to fit the idea in my head." He shrugged. He'd done it before. It was a lot harder than just carving out the shape the wood wanted to be in, but it would be good to exercise those muscles again.

[James Florian]

James looked awkwardly down at the ground and shuffled his feet when Grove vocally expressed his displeasure with their country’s way of running things. He wished there was an obvious way around it, but the repercussions could be too disastrous for everyone if James just threw the law out the window. The law was used to keep the gentry happy and everyone knew a feudal system depending on the followers being happy. James may one day be the King, but it would be the Earls and Barons sent out to collect the taxes, enforce the laws, and provide soldiers in times of war. If James lost their support, he would lose these things and soon the entire kingdom would spiral into disaster. No it was absolutely vital that James play by the rules. Luckily though there were only a handful of “untouchable” laws. If James could just keep his mouth shut and never reveal just how much he really despised them all then maybe he could go down in history as a good, well beloved King. Like how his father currently is. Though James probably wouldn’t be as good as the current king. He did restore the land after the regent queen’s caustic rule after all.

“I’m sorry Grove.” James quietly mumbled. He didn’t want to thrust Grove into a lifestyle that was uncomfortable, foreign, and not at all like him. Yet at the same time James didn’t want to do this without his best friend by his side. He was being selfish, oh so incredibly selfish. Especially since James wasn’t King yet and he probably wouldn’t be for years to come. There was time to sort this out. James and Grove had nothing, but time.

Grove’s next statement though for some reason really tore James in two. It was true, his dads would all be so proud of their little lumberjack. After all isn’t that the ultimate rags to riches story? But it was clear it wasn’t what Grove wanted. He didn’t want anything to do with the life James had been raised in, besides James himself. With a frustrated groan James put his head in his hands as he thought about this whole mess and how it was his fault. If he wasn’t the firstborn and only child of the monarchs he wouldn’t have to worry about one day being a king and possibly screwing up. Instead if just one of his siblings had lived, or if his mother and father weren’t royalty, things would be completely different. If that was the case, James could just pack his things and move into the forest if he wanted too. Who would stop him? But no, he was the heir. Things, great things, were expected from him. However it was already pretty clear James thought that he wouldn’t be able to deliver. He was too much like his mother and nothing like his father. That wasn’t a good thing in a male dominated society. Daughters could be like Mothers. Sons had to be younger version of their fathers. Especially if the family in question was the royal one.

“Sometimes I wish that I wasn’t the prince.” James said to Grove once he removed his hands from his face. Oh how his life would be so much easier if there wasn’t a crown on his head. Sure he had no clue what it would consist of, or what he would be doing, but it certainly wouldn’t be as complicated as being groomed to be responsible for an entire kingdom.

James cracked a grin at the description of Grove’s favorite plaything growing up. Of course it would be worn down and in need of a touchup. That was just the side effect of being loved so greatly. After all a child’s favorite toy was their first best friend. Sometimes it was their for all the firsts. First tooth, first steps, first words. It was always by their side, a constant companion. They were the guardians of pleasant dreams and comforter during the bad ones. They were the guinea pigs of a child’s wild imagination and the stories conceived became stitched in between all the threads and strings. Sure by the time children began to naturally move away from these items they were rough and worn down. But that was part of the magic wasn’t it? Because years down the road and the plaything did come back into their lives, it always did, they would be able to remember all the joys of childhood. Even in the hustle bustle of the adult world where innocence dissipates into nothingness and everything was so serious. “Yeah maybe even the red soldier could benefit from a fresh coat of paint.” He said with a small chuckle. There were only so many battles and so many years a wooden figure could go through before it began to chip and crack.

He rolled his eyes at Grove’s response. “Of course you wouldn’t.” He teased lightly though it was he who began to blush when Grove pointed out he did understand that there was a purpose to his carvings. Just not the preplanned kind. “Oh.” James said with his cheeks reddening not-so-slightly --curse his pale skin!-- out of embarrassment. A sudden realization dawned in him and it caused the prince to look at his friend in both disbelief and sheer awe, “Wait. You mean you rarely ever plan out what you’re going to carve?” He reiterated from his own shock. “You can’t be serious… They’re too good to not have at least some planning to go into them.” James said as he thought about all the little knickknacks scattered throughout the castle and the dwarfs cottage. He had always thought that Grove put forth some serious forethought into the designs because they were just that detailed. Never before had he possibly imagined they were improvised. It seemed to be untrue in his mind.

“Grove… That’s just amazing. I can’t believe it…” He said with a huge grin on his face. “Those hands have some serious talent.”

[Grove]

Grove hadn't realized how his own unhappiness was making Jim unhappy too. He hadn't meant to do that. He knew that he would be unhappy and uncomfortable with the whole mess and all because they hadn't been born in the same class. It wasn't either of their faults. They would both have to make the best of the situation because they'd been friends for too long to anything. "It's not your fault," he said gently.

Grove watched Jim without speaking. He knew how hard it was for Jim being a prince. And he hadn't asked for that anymore than Grove had asked to be abandoned in the forest. He nudged his friend gently. "You can't think like that Jim," he said softly. "You're the prince. Our only prince and you're a great prince. And you'll be a great king."

Grove looked down at his hands in embarrassment, his cheeks tinting red. Jim's praise was something Grove didn't really know what to do with. He appreciated it, but his wood working was just something he'd always been good at. He always been good at working with his hands. And gently crafting small things out of wood was easy. He like coaxing shapes of an oak branch. "It's not a big deal, Jim. It's just how it works sometimes. The wood speaks to me. I'm a woodsman." He shrugged. "It's really not a big deal."

[James Florian]

"But it is Grove!" James countered in an exasperated tone. He was frustrated with this whole mess which he knew for a fact was his fault. He was the one to bring the law up, he was the one who was stupid enough to not realize what it would mean for Grove, and he was the one who couldn't just man up and tell those jerks to go admire their reflections or whatever narcissistic, greedy, royal cousins did whenever they weren't making everyone around them miserable. No, this mess was James' fault and for what? Nothing. The two of them were working themselves up for no apparent reason because they had years --hopefully-- to sort this mess out. The King was fit as a fiddle, and he wouldn't retire suddenly either unless of course he truly believed James was ready to be in charge of everyone. By then James would finally get some hair on his chest and get rid of his grandmother's former favorites. Regardless of how much his mother protested. The raven haired lad hated them, he hated them almost as much as Daae. Almost, but not quite. Then he could have Grove come to the castle and help him whenever they liked and not have to worry about keeping them appeased. Hopefully the little Jesuses would be a bit more kinder than their forefathers. At least when it did happen, and yes James resolved that it would, everyone would learn that it was never a good idea to insult a future king. Even the ones who turned out like their mothers could have a nasty temper if you pushed them too far. 

James closed his eyes and forced himself to take a couple of deep breaths in order to help chase these angry thoughts out of his mind. He honestly had no idea where that mental rant came from. It was so out of character for him to be like that, maybe everyone was right. Maybe he really did have it in him to be a good king, because he if could make a serious vow like that in what he saw to be the best interest of everyone else then who knew what would happen if James was presented with a far more dire and pressing decision. Too bad it only took him seventeen years to make that vow. However that would be later, James was here now. He needed to focus on now which would be the reasons as too why Grove was wrong. "I am being selfish. You don't want to live the life I've been raised in, and believe me if I've anything to do with it you won't." He said as he took Grove's hands in his own and looked his friend dead in the eyes with this new resolve washed over him. "I don't care how many people I anger along the way. I swear on my life that you won't ever have to become something that you're not because a few arrogant, no good men want to keep the power they don't deserve. Your my best friend, and it's pretty clear I trust you with some of my darkest demons and in the eyes of any man, that will always be enough." 

As he dropped his hands, James just felt a huge relief wash off of his shoulders. Which honestly made no sense to him, for Christ's sake his face was tear stained and yet this was the first time he truly felt that wave of confidence he always saw his father wear wherever he went. Maybe airing out his dirty laundry was the key all along. For ten years he stayed silent, never revealing his fears and as a result he was a wreck on the inside. However in knowing that it was okay to be scared and also knowing now that he wasn't Atlas seemingly bearing the weight of the sky on his shoulders. Now he had someone to share the burden with him and be there for the rainy days. Just that relief was enough to finally start to chase that demon inside of James away. And to think this was only just the beginning. "Yeah Grove you're right. Things will be a whole lot easier once I make sure those Gluttons will never wield any sort of control." He said with a sly smile that appeared in the right corner of his cheeks. Sure it might stir up some controversy, but once everyone knew just how ruthless and uncaring they were their names would fade into the obscure pages of history. 

However though it was going to be like learning to walk for the first time. Baby steps. That's what it's going to take, and the first one would be not coming up with a counter argument to Grove's statement. James was a good prince and he would be an even better King. The two of them had plenty of time to let him learn how to run again. Though this time he wouldn't be fleeing. Not over his dead body. 

"Grove, you're crazy to think that's not a big deal. I've seen other artists lament for hours over drafts,  and yet you're able to just come up with brilliant masterpieces by just letting it come to you. You have a gift. That's a little more than not a big deal." James explained with a huge grin on his face, refusing to Grove deny himself a share of the confidence boost that was making the Prince feel as if he was on cloud nine. Grove was talented, there was no disputing that, but this revelation brought it to a whole new level. Improv was hard, ask any actor. Or Royal for that matter. However it was nearly impossible as an artist. However here was Grove defying all the odds again and still refusing to see just how lucky he was. There were a lot of people out there who wished more than anything for the ability to create without the effort and it just came to his friend like breathing.

Looks like it's James' turn to open up his best friend's eyes and in his typical fashion he wasn't going to give in until Grove did.

[Grove]

"You didn't ask for this life," Grove said gently. It wasn't either of their faults that they had the lives they had. It wasn't up to them. That had been decided by some higher power long before either of them had been born. Jim had been meant for his life as a royal and Grove had been meant to live a quieter life in the forest. And their lives had been meant to collide in the best way possible.

Grove sighed, putting a hand up to stroke his mustache for a moment, the course bristles scratching against his calloused hand. He didn't want Jim to feel guilty about something that he shouldn't feel guilty. "It's not selfish," he said, moving the hand from his mouth. "If our places were reversed I'd want you there with me too." He shrugged. "You're my best friend, Jim. We'll figure it out."

He was glad though that James was trying to see himself as a positive leader, because it was the truth. The people loved Jim. They loved their prince and Grove could see why. He was kind and compassionate and he would be the kind of king the people needed. He would be the kind of king that would stand for and with his people. He nodded, smiling slightly. James was better than he thought he was.

"It doesn't just come to me," Grove argued, turning sullen again. It wasn't some kind of special magical talent. "The wood speaks to me," he grumbled, looking down at the hands in his lap. "It's probably because I was abandoned in a forest and lived in a forest and named after the forest. Me and the trees have a bond that speaks to me in my carving. That's all."

[James Florian]

"I know that Grove,  I know..." James said in a slightly morose tone as his voice trailed off at the end. How many times in a day was he reminded that he was destined for great things? That he was chosen to be a leader? At least half a dozen and he heard it from everyone. His mother, father, the dwarfs, guards, servants, and now Grove. Everyone had decided that just because he was born to the royal family that automatically would make him a good king. It was like nobody believed that he couldn't be anything else. It was King or bust. 

It was also suffocating. 

Being told day in and day out that this was all he was going to be, that he couldn't even have a choice as to where his life will lead him, on certain days it made him want to scream. It made him want to reach up to his head, grab onto his jet black locks, and scream bloody murder until somebody actually listened to him instead of just shaking their head in that heartless, uncaring way that always preceded the "You're a future King, now act like it" speech. He was a teenager first, he was a teenager with the mind of a child. He didn't give a damn about being a future king. All James really wanted was to figure out who he was without the crown, and he couldn't even do that. Every time he approached somebody, anybody, about this need deep inside of him, they all told him the exact same thing. "You're a Prince and one day you'll be a king. That's all you need to be." That's all they needed James to be! But what about James' needs?! What did he need to be for himself? Deep down inside was he a king? Or was he meant to be someone else, but he just didn't know because that wretched crown was always dragging him down? 

James' hands clutched the edges on the bench as he moved back and forth slightly as he remembered all the frustrating times this subject came up, however one look at Grove while he was messing with his mustache was all that was needed to push James into a mini-fit of giggles. It was so stupid, but in that one moment Grove looked so much like his father Doc. Back when the boys were little, they would always go to Doc with a super-important pressing question that absolutely had to be answered or the entire world would fall apart, such as "Why did the leaves change colors in the fall?" among other things, and he would rub his hand along his beard before launching into a story to explain the answer to whatever question they asked, stuttering along the way just adding to the humor of the answer. By the end everyone would be laughing and giggling. Except for Grumpy of course, but every now and then James could've sworn that he saw the faintest of smiles on the stoic man's face.

"I'm sorry Grove, you just looked so much like Uncle Doc." James apologized as he pulled himself together once more. He stopped giggling, but he couldn't help the sly smirk that appeared on his face when Grove mentioned that it would be what he would've wanted if it was him who was destined to be a future king. As unsure as James was about his place in the world, he was certain about one thing, he wasn't meant to be a woodsman like his extended family. It was a rough lifestyle, physically and mentally demanding in order to stay alive out in the wild. James would never be able to meet the first set of requirements. Sure he might be considered strong since there was indeed some muscle on this skinny little twig, by no means was he as built as Grove was. The lumberjack was a tank and the prince was a little bug. 

However he still stood by his opinion that Grove would make a better King than James. Or at least he would be better at being the king everyone wanted James to be. He was strong, brave, silent, fair, loyal, and he just had that air of being a powerful person. Grove would definitely be more suited to be the Medieval King than the naive, sensitive, momma's boy that James was. He never told Grove this though, the lumberjack would never believe him. But that was another reason as to why James wanted Grove by his side when it was time for James to follow in his father's footsteps. Grove would easily know what to do. Grove always knew what to do. 

"Yeah we'll figure this out. We still have plenty of time." James said with a simple nod. It wasn't like his father was going to step down --or god forbid drop down-- tomorrow. As short as medieval lifespans were the royals and gentry lived longer than most, and besides it was pretty clear that James was not ready to become a king yet. The two friends had nothing, but time before them. 

James shook his head slightly and bit his lip in order to keep a disbelieving smile contained when Grove offered his explanation as to why he was so talented when it came to wood carving. "The wood... It speaks to you?" He asked with that all too familiar teasing tone of voice and playful expression in his eyes that Grove knew all too well. James was definitely his mother's son. However he couldn't help, but think that Grove sounded like his mother in that moment. She always claimed she could speak to animals, but James and Florian both couldn't do it themselves plus they didn't know anyone else who could so they thought that maybe some of it was a little pretending. To her family who didn't really understand this strange ability, it was just nothing more than an unfortunate result of being pushed away and left behind by all those who had cared about her in her childhood.

"Grove," He started to say with a small laugh, "Why won't you just admit that you have a talent and a freakin' amazing one at that?"

[Grove]

Grove hadn't meant to make Jim sad. He knew how overwhelming it was for his friend to be born into such a role that would give him absolutely no other choices. Grove at least was a commoner. He had choices and options in life. Not many. To be fair if he wasn't so good at carving then he probably would have just gone into mining like his fathers. And one day he'd have taken over the mine all together. And he still had choices even then.

Jim didn't have any choices. He was an only child. Even worse, he was an only son. He'd had the weight of the crown on his shoulders since before he could walk or talk. He didn't know what to say to make it better. He didn't know what to do to take some of that pressure off Jim's shoulders.

Grove rolled his eyes when Jim began to giggle. One simple movement and it was like they were kids again, goofing around and pretending to be the dwarves. Grove smiled despite the eye roll because it was exactly like when they were kids. "Let's get through school first," he said softly.

Grove didn't like to be teased. He did have a relationship with the forest. He knew he did even if no one else believed him. In fact the only one who believed him was Snow, but no one believed that she had a special relationship with animals. "Yes," he growled sullenly. He knew that Jim didn't believe him, but he didn't want to be teased about it. "It's not just talent."

[James Florian]

As much as the both of them would like to believe, they knew that there was nothing they could do about how trapped James believed himself to be. It was his duty, his responsibility, and as the reigning royal’s only child only he could shoulder this burden. Maybe things would be different if James had a brother or sister, but he didn’t and there was nothing the two friends could do about that. It was like James was a semi-modern version of Atlas. He alone could carry the weight and even though others could try to carry this hardship with him, at the end of the day their arms would tire and they would have to let go. James however could not, and even if he had the option he probably wouldn’t either. He knew just how much depended on him particular. As the only legitimate heir of King Florian and Queen Snow White, he was the only one who could legally inherit the throne and everyone counted on him to keep this golden era keep shining bright. As difficult and stressful as it was he knew there was no other option. There wasn’t a way out for this king to be. He was the heir, there was no spare and that was that. No matter how badly he wished it would be different.

However James couldn’t lie to himself, maybe, just maybe he could end up learning more about who he was if you took away the glittering crown and coddling mother. After all here he was in a school setting for the first time in his life where he was surrounded by other royals who could quite possibly be in the same boat as him. Also he was going to get a chance that he never got back home. It was quite possible while he was here he could almost be normal. He would have more friends his age, and he wouldn’t have to deal with the problems of the crown while he was here. Now maybe that would take some pressure off of his shoulders for once. James was also excited about the fact that he was going to get to see Grove every single day instead of just once every couple weeks or so. That would also be new to the both of them. Then again practically everything was going to be new. Well for James at least, Grove had already been here for a year.

He laughed lightly and said “Alright, that’s the plan then.” They could get through school first and then worry about the crown again. James could stay a prince for at least four more years, then they could start to worry about what was going to happen when this naive, trouble magnet took the throne.

James’ expression turned serious though when he thought of something he never thought of before and he asked rather meekly from the sheer reality of what he had to say, “Grove, but what if I… become the King before I graduate?” It was a terrifying thought to the seventeen year old. Being a prince was bad enough, but what if something happened to his father in the four years he was going to be away his home. It could happen, after all England had a boy-king during the time period they came from and although it hadn’t happened yet, the English throne would one day be left to a baby and two boys would be murdered so the crown wouldn’t be in the hands of a minor again. It was completely possible that James could become a king at seventeen, eighteen, nineteen. He did come from the medieval ages after all. James hoped it didn’t happen because that would mean that he would lose his dad most likely, but it was still a possibility and a terrifying one at that.

James put his hands up in defeat when Grove started to basically growl at him, “Okay! Okay it’s not just a talent.” It was never a good thing when Grove started to growl like an animal. It was also another scary thing because that meant the lumberjack was also getting angry and it was kind of scary to see Grove like that. He was the gentle giant, capable of hauling a cart of priceless gems out of a mine one moment, and the next carefully pick up an injured bird. It was almost as if he wasn’t capable of being mad. However he was and James didn’t want to see that side of him today or any day for that matter.

So James changed the subject before things could escalate, “So with all that aside, did you work on any major projects here or was it just mostly little things?”