"And so Penelope and James continued their journey to the palace" the narrator continued as if nothing important had happened.
As the pair resumed their journey a shell shocked James tried to remind himself this was a just children's story and he couldn't come to any real harm. However, that was a difficult thought to hold while he was trapped in the form of a small, defenceless rodent in a strange and dangerous land.
Thankfully, after a journey of some considerable length for the tiny legs of a mouse, things began looking up.
"There's the palace! Thank goodness!" Penelope exclaimed with relief as a magnificent building came into view. She picked James up from the floor and held him delicately in her hands "Cornelius is the finest wizard in the land, he will have you back to your old self in no time" she whispered kindly as James squeaked his appreciation.
James was then carried into a pristine looking, classic fairy tale castle. Even if he were still his regular size and would have looked huge and imposing to him.
A pretty, brown haired, freckle faced young woman ran eagerley to greet the Princess.
"Welcome back your Majesty" she courtseyed gracefully "we were starting to worry about you"
"I'm sorry Emma, I was a little waylaid" Penelope smiled ""I was hoping to speak to Cornelius. My friend James and I encountered a witch on our journey here. I'm fine thankfully, but as you can see James is a little worse for wear" she nodded down at the mouse she was still holding.
"Oh dear!" Emma shuffled from one foot to the other awkwardly "I'm afraid your father sent Cornelius away on an important errand for a few days. Gerald is here"
"Gerald, the bungling apprentice?" Penelope sighed "I fear he would make things worse"
"If you would rather wait for Cornelius I can prepare a cage for your friend" Emma offered helpfully. James squeaked in dissaproval of this idea. Things were bad enough without him being placed in a cage as if he were Penelope's pet.
"I really don't think a mouse cage that would be appropriate for my friend" Penelope answered sternly.
"I just meant for his own protection, your Majesty" Emma spoke quickly and apologetically "I mean, because of.."
Jamed followed the servant girls gaze down to two monstrous looking (to him anyway) cats that were already eyeing him up hungrily.
"Oh yes, I see what you mean" the princess conceded.
"So what would you like me to do your Highness? Shall I fetch Gerald or the mouse cage?"
"And so, the Princess decided.." the narrators voice cut in from above as James' fate once again rested in their hands.