It was the first night of winter, and Arendelle was greeted by the first snowflake. The kingdom's beauty shined throughout the four seasons, but winter proved to be the most captivating each year. The forest trees covered in blankets of snow, the night sky filled with millions of snowflakes, creating a feast for the eyes, and every citizen watching blissfully from the windows of their small homes, greeting the forthcoming winter with high anticipation.
It was an especial favorite of the fair Queen Idun, who gave birth to her first child, Elsa, only five years prior. No vast riches, wondrous travels, or love from any soul could outdo the the young princess' importance to Idun. She was everything she could hope for in a daughter and more. Exceptionally sweet, loving to all who greet her, with a smile that could end wars.
But Elsa was special in more ways than one. In ways Idun couldn't comprehend. But her love for her daughter never diminished because of it. And although the kingdom was oblivious to Elsa's unique power over ice and snow, Idun wanted nothing more than to embrace it. And in the privacy of their bedroom in the castle, they did just that.
"Okay... Again."
With her mother giving the word, Elsa beamed brightly as her snow flurries were conjured up by a mere wave of her hand. The young queen-to-be was still in the process of controlling her abilities, which were said to run in Idun's family, but only once every other generation, or so, did they appear. It was a complex thing to grasp, but Idun cared not where they came from, but how they affected the life of her precious princess. She knew it was too early for the kingdom to embrace such a gift, and wanted to wait until the powers were under strict control before revealing the truth to the world. And so, Idun and Elsa spent every day, about an hour or so, toying with her abilities, learning their capabilities and figuring the best way to handle them.
It seemed like an immense amount of work, but Elsa didn't mind. As a child, she loved to play with her abilities, and often begged her mother to continue the practice session well pass an hour's mark. After all, she was taught to embrace and love herself, despite being a tad bit different. And embrace herself, she did.
However, Idun wasn't the only one aware of the power Elsa held. The wise King Agdar quietly entered the room with a face of apprehension. Elsa greeted her father with a warm hug around his legs, earning a genuine smile.
"Young lady, just what are you doing up this late?" He said with a playful look of anger.
Elsa giggled in understanding and ran into her mother's arms in an attempt to hide. Agdar crept behind the little princess and pulled her into his own, chuckling as she tried to break away.
"Now, princess, I know you're having fun, but it's time for bed, okay..?"
"But..." She whimpered with the puppy dog face.
"Oh..." The King huffed, mimicking her expression. "Bed time. A good queen rises and falls like the sun; when the sky's awake, you're awake. And when the sky's asleep...?"
"I stay awake!"
Agdar laughed with a shake of his head, placing the princess back onto her feet. "Run along and get some rest." said the King as his daughter obliged, smiling brighter than the moon as she did.
With Elsa in the next room over getting ready for bed, Agdar sighed and walked over to his queen, an easy expression shrouding his face.
"How's the baby?" He asked, referring to the queen's pregnancy. "She's in the same, precise state as she was forty minutes ago. And the hour before that. And the hour before that..."
"Oh, forgive me, my love. You know how I am with these sorts of things. Elsa's powers are still far from controlled, or understood. And things can, and have gotten dangerous due to the instability. How will we manage raising little Anna safely? What will she think of her sister?"
"It will be fine, my king."
"But what if, Idun? Now... I'm still in the process of finding a way to help our daughter..."
"What do you mean by 'help'?" Idun asked with growing angered.
"I mean, ridding her of these powers to ensure the safety of both herself and Anna."
"Agdar, that's not the way to handle this."
"It's how I see fit."
"Your views are wrong. Elsa doesn't need to rid herself of these powers, she needs to embrace them, understand them, and control them. Isn't that a much better way to handle everything? By helping her do just that."
"Of course, it is-"
Sighing, Agdar rubbed his forehead stressfully, trying to compose himself. "Neither of us have an understanding of these abilities, and if we don't, how can we be sure life will treat our Elsa well in the future? There's no one out there with an understating. She may be happy and content now, but what about in twenty years, when she's meant to be out and about in world? She'll feel alone."
"Agdar, she'll have Anna. We're going to teach our girls no matter what, family is here forever, and no matter how alone we feel, we'll always be able to turn to one another. She won't be alone. I can assure you of that."
What a lucky man he was. His queen always knew precisely what to say to calm the nerves. "I suppose you're right... So much can happy in the coming future. I just want her safe and happy."
Idun gave a soft smile and placed her dainty hand gently on the king's cheek, cupping it lovingly. "Our Elsa will be fine."