Chapter 1: Respice In Praeteritum Mutare

Dawn's pink and purple tendrils slowly inched across the eastern sky, brushing against the tranquil face of Arendelle's contentedly sleeping queen. The long lashes that fanned against her face fluttered as the first morning's light gently kissed them awake. Yawning, due to not having actually acquired much sleep the night before, she slowly began to stir when she realized a heavy arm was wrapped around her waist and had tightened its grip. In a husky voice, the owner of the arm spoke into her ear, "Good morning, Wife."

She rolled to face him, blue eyes meeting green, with a smile that could only be described as warm and flirtatious. "Good morning, Husband," she replied, her voice a playful purr. They had been man and wife for almost a year, but Elsa never tired of hearing James calling her "Wife," nor did she tire of calling him "Husband." When they were alone in their chambers, they weren't the Queen and Prince Consort. They were no one's sister, brother, grandchild, aunt, uncle, mother, or father. Alone together for this short time each day they were just what they were to each other and nothing else.

He fingered a few loose strands of her soft platinum hair in the manner they both loved. "Elsa, we should get up soon if we want to get in a ride alone together today before Kristoff and I leave to tour the Borderlands tomorrow."

Suggestively she ran her fingers along his chest, bit her lip, and looked up at him with imploring sapphire eyes. "Or we could just stay in bed all day today?" She knew she was asking for the near-impossible. If they were to stay in the castle, they would undoubtedly be met with countless distractions and interruptions, even if they tried to remain within their chambers. Such was the lot of the Queen of Arendelle and her Prince Consort.

James Westbrooke didn't know what exactly it was that he did to earn the love of Queen Elsa of Arendelle, but he thanked the heavens above for every morning that he was allowed to wake with her in his arms. The most amazing part was that Elsa felt exactly the same regarding him.

The Queen and her Prince Consort were indeed a very blessed couple. The had their health and their youth. They had a robust toddler in their adopted son, Aidan, a large extended family who loved them dearly, and a kingdom who adored them - especially together as a couple. The one missing piece to perfect the puzzle would be a child born to them - an heir to the throne of Arendlle and more importantly a product of their true love and devotion. Alas, as their one-year anniversary neared it was still only a wish and not yet a reality though not for a lack of trying.

"Elsa, do not tempt me," James growled into her ear, his hot breath sending shivers down her spine. "As tempting as spending the entire day alone with you in bed is, and you know me well enough to know that it is, something or someone will interrupt us. I know of one particularly demanding resident of the castle who will not leave us alone, and I very much want to spend this last day before my journey completely wrapped up in you."

Even after a year of marriage, Elsa still blushed profusely whenever James said something with a double meaning, even if she was capable of doing just the same. "Yes, where Mama and Papa are, there Aidan should also be -at least in his opinion. I'll have to thank Granny for taking charge of him in order to give us this day alone together. I'm rather jealous that he had you to himself all day yesterday, even though I have been given today."

James continued playing with her hair and told her, "You were welcome to join us at any time, but you and Anna were tied up in that day-long meeting with the chancellor. Besides," he grinned, showing off his single dimple, "you had me last night," before rolling over on top of her.

A wicked grin spread across her face, "That I most certainly did," she told him, expecting more of the same. To her vexation, he only smacked his hand across her backside, not unlike he would a horse, and rolled complete over her and off the bed to dress for the day.

"Come on!" He held his hands out to pull her out of bed. "There's somewhere special I want to take you!"

"Fine!" Elsa reluctantly agreed. "You do realize I get very few free days, don't you?"

James cocked his head and laughed, "I think all of us who love you are very well aware of that, Elsa. Now get into your riding habit! We must away before Aidan wakes, or he'll demand we take him with us!"

From her dressing room Elsa agreed, "Yes, the Little Admiral is becoming more of a Little Dictator. It is time to start disciplining him more, now that he is older."

"I quite agree, Dearest," James agreed while tying his own cravat. He was having a difficult time of it, but he and Elsa had given the valet and ladiy's maid the day off. "Of course that will mean that we will both have to be consistent. You cannot give in to him when he gives you the sad eyes."

"Why not?" Elsa called from her dressing room. "He has your eyes, and you haven't complained when I have given in to your wants and desires. I cannot resist those Westbrooke green eyes."

"I'm glad my brother has my mother's eyes," James muttered to himself. Elsa walked out of her dressing room wearing a new riding habit made of royal blue velvet, leaving her husband quite breathless. He managed to tell her, "You have me almost considering your plan of staying here, within our chambers this morning."

An look of annoyance crossed Elsa's face. "Oh no, James! You made me leave our warm, comfortable bed. You did not force me to take the time to put on this outfit, sans my lady's maid, just for you to get me out of it! You had your chance. You will take me to this place you were so adamant about, and then you can get me out of this habit!"

James sighed. "Fine, but I think I know where Aidan learned to be a dictator." He offered her his arm, "Are you ready?"

Elsa wouldn't admit it to James, but she was glad he got her out of bed that morning. She was always a little sad whenever she missed watching a sunrise as picturesque as the one they witnessed together that morning. "So where are you taking me?" she asked, scratching Argus' ear?

James watched her spoil his horse from atop Kari with a bit of annoyance. "When are you going to give me back my horse?"

Elsa cocked her head to him, "Oh, James. It's been three years since I first claimed him as my own. I think he is more my horse now."

"Horse thief. I will tell you that where I am taking you is related to the day you first stole my horse, and here we are." James informed her as the continued to ride up the mountains of Arendelle.

Elsa looked around at her surroundings and didn't notice anything spectacular about the place. "Wait, what? Where are we?"

James dismounted Kari then helped Elsa down from Argus. "Dearest, do you not recognize the place where you first told me that you loved me?"

Elsa looked around some more, remembering the day she brought down her ice palace then managed to almost drown and freeze James to death, and hid her face in his chest, laughing. She lifted her head. "I think I was more concerned with not killing you than paying attention to how beautiful my surroundings were at the time!"

James pulled her down to sit in his lap against a tree. "Well, I for one think this site should be made into a shrine. This is the spot where the magnificent Queen Elsa of Arendelle declared that she loved me and couldn't live without me, even if she thought that I didn't hear her declaration at the time. Elsa, I know that when I return there will be many celebrations for the anniversary of our first year of marriage, but I wanted to spend this time alone with you here first, where our love really began. This past year as your husband has been greater than I ever dreamed. I love you, Wife."

Elsa ran her hand lovingly along his face and smiled warmly up at him. "James, I know now that I can live without you, but I never want to experience that again. It's not an abundant life, but more like survival - at least until Aidan came along. You too have made this past year something greater than I could ever have dreamed, because until just before I met you I never dared to dream of such happiness and contentment. You are my heart, Husband." She leaned up to grace him with a kiss.

After some time, James pulled away and glanced about the little clearing in the woods. "Some day we'll have to bring Aidan and all of our other children to this spot where our family's story began."

Elsa threw off her hat with a heavy sigh, staring at the ground beneath her feet, "If there ever are any more children…"

"Elsa," James protested.

Elsa placed a hand on James' chest. "No James, it's been almost a year and nothing. What if I can't have children? What if after all, my powers are a curse that prevents me from carrying children of my own body? What if we never give Arendelle an heir?"

James tenderly brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. Oh how he hated that she was hurting and there was nothing he could do. "Then we keep trying."

"James, I'm serious. I love Aidan more than I could ever begin to explain, but I also want a child that is part you and me. Every month we try and every month when it doesn't happen I feel like a failure!"

James cupped her face in his hands and kissed her melancholy brow. "Elsa, have you ever considered why people who aren't trying seem to be the ones who have children so easily?"

"No."

"It's because they're not worried about it. It's the last thing from their minds. Worry and anxiety do not aid in creating children. Let us just enjoy each other, enjoy being together, and enjoy loving each other as a man and wife should! There is plenty time for children yet!"

"And if we never have a child that is from our bodies?" Elsa asked, the worry still evident in her eyes. "What if our only child is Aidan?"

"We will love him as we always have. Then Anna will be queen, then Betsy (the diminutive Elsabet had been given in order to distinguish her from all of the Elsas), just as you planned when you believed I was dead. There is little more to do than what we have been doing to make it happen, Elsa. You must be less anxious and relax."

James looked at her, more serious than he had been all day. "I have never doubted that we will have a castle-full of children. Remember? Children with your eyes and my dashing smile? We just have to give it time and relax."

Elsa steadied herself on the found and continued, "What if we do have children though, James? Granny and I have talked. My powers are so much stronger than hers. She can't create living things, but I can. We both believe that the winter rose made my inherited powers stronger. What if our children have these powers?" she asked, creating a few snowflakes in the air.

"Then we will guide them with all the knowledge you have acquired in the past four years concerning them. You understand your powers and know how to control them. You have mastered your powers, they no longer master you. You will start off teaching any child that. We won't lock anyone behind closed doors. We will hug and love them until they're sick of it! Most of all, we will relax and enjoy the blessings in our life!"

"You are very stuck on this entire subject of relaxing, James," Elsa laughed, trying to make light of everything.

James kissed her passionately, leaning her into the grass. "That I am. I am determined to help you to relax before we return to the castle. Let me now begin by finally getting you out of that riding habit!"

"James!" Elsa shrieked as their little area of the forest filled with the sounds of two people very much in love.

Two weeks later, Elsa was sitting in the East Garden with Granny, watching Aidan and Elsabet playing together, waiting on Anna to join them. The children were playing on the ground with some toys.

"Where is Anna?" Granny asked, looking for her youngest granddaughter. "I thought she would be with Betsy?"

Elsa stifled a yawn. "I don't know where she is. When I went to the nursery for Aidan, Betsy begged to come with us, so I had Nanny Matilde tell Anna that she would be here with us when Anna came to look for her." She yawned again, catching her grandmother's notice.

"Elsa, you look positively exhausted! Are you well?"

Elsa smiled lightly at Granny's concern. "I haven't slept well while James and Kristoff have been away. It's funny how after only a year I've grown to where I can't sleep alone."

"I don't think that it's funny at all. I still awake at night, expecting to find your grandfather, and he's been gone far longer than we were even married. Still yet, you look a little peaked, Elsa. Is there more than just restless night's bothering you?"

Elsa started to answer but caught Aidan push his younger cousin who was barely walking to the ground. "Aidan James Westbrooke! Come here this instant!" The toddler approached his mother with his head hanging low. "Aidan, we do not push people, especially your younger cousin. She's smaller than you and loves you! She's just trying to act like you! It's your job to always take care her and protect her! Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Mama," the little boy answered his mother, garnering a kiss on his ruddy head.

"Good. Now apologize to your cousin," Elsa instructed, sending him back to Betsy.

"I sorry, Bets. I wuv you."

"Ai!" was all Bets could say.

Once Elsa was certain all was well between the children, she returned to her conversation with Granny. "Oh, there have been reports of Wesleton ships raiding our merchants. We sent Minister Knutzen to confront the Duke, but I'm fairly certain it will come to nothing. That man is itching for a fight some day. We're not ready yet, but we're getting there. We're just trying not to attract attention to it. I want to avoid a war at all costs, but I worry that it's inevitable. Then I worry that when it does happen I'll have to send James off to lead the battle. Or if it takes years upon years to escalate, both James and Aidan."

Granny watched little Aidan entertaining his younger cousin. "Mothers of sons always run the risk of having to be brave enough to send their boys into battle. Queens, unfortunately, have to send other wives' husbands and mothers' sons as well."

Elsa took a sip of tea, "I think about it all the time."

Granny took Elsa's hand into hers. "Elsa, we're not at war. We may never be in your lifetime. You cannot live in fear and worry. You, above all others know that fear is your greatest enemy. You should try to get some rest, dear. You want to look fresh when James returns. I'll watch the children until Anna appears. They're too little to get into too much trouble, aren't they?"

Elsa shifted her eyes to where Betsy was eating mud pies provided by Aidan and sighed, "Well…'

"Go! Take a nap before dinner, Elsa. I'm sure Anna will be along shortly." Granny started to push Elsa out of her seat.

Elsa glanced one more time at the children, then agreed with a yawn. She stepped over to Aidan and Betsy, giving each a kiss goodbye on the tops of their heads before heading inside with the intention of getting a much-needed rest.

Of course they ended up as just intentions, because once inside the castle, Elsa ran into her sister. "Elsa, you have to see what I purchased from a traveling flimflam man!" Anna told her as she hooked her arm through Elsa's.

Elsa sighed, realizing her nap would have to wait just a little while longer. "Anna, I just left Granny with the children in the East Garden to try and get a nap." She pointed in the direction of her bed chambers.

Anna eyed her sister briefly. "Okay, I'll go take over in just a moment. First come see what I purchased! Then, I'll let you get some sleep. You do look awfully tired."

Elsa stifled a yawn, "I haven't been sleeping well since James has been gone. You seem to be faring better in Kristoff's absence."

Anna rolled her eyes. "Of course I am! Don't get me wrong, because I love Kristoff, but it has been heavenly not having to try to sleep through his snoring for a bit. Besides, he's often away, harvesting ice. I'm rather used to it. Come," she pulled her sister o her own bed chamber, "you have to see this!"

It was Elsa's turn to roll her eyes. "Oh no, Anna. Please tell me that you haven't purchased another one-man-band, have you? I don't think my ears can handle it!"

"No, no, no, Kristoff told me that he would go live with Sven in the stables if I bought another after you destroyed the last one with ice. I just bought the most exquisite mirror today for my chambers," Anna assured her sister.

"A mirror seems harmless enough. Did you get a good price for it?" Elsa asked, knowing her sister's habit of paying too much for everything.

Anna shrugged. "How should I know? I just thought it looked nice." She then led Elsa to the chambers she shared with Kristoff to show off her latest purchase. It was an old mirror, made of what looked to be very old oak. It was very interesting looking, with what looked like sun-dials carved all along the wood. "Isn't it interesting? I just had to have it! It's just like the one Mama had! I've always wanted a floor-length mirror since I was a little girl and would play dress up in front of Mama's," Anna admitted.

Elsa ran her hands along the wood, inspecting the intricate artwork. "It is interesting, Anna. Why didn't you just take Mama's old one? They are just alike," she looked to her sister. "In fact, I think that Mama used to have several, and she sold them. There's a chance you just purchased on of her old ones."

Anna shrugged, "I don't know. It just seemed wrong to take it from her rooms. We haven't changed anything about them in seven years."

Elsa stared at her figure in the mirror. "I know. I've been thinking about that. With our ever-growing family, I think it's time to renovate their chambers."

Anna's eyes grew large as she eyed Elsa's stomach. "Do you have something you want to tell your baby sister?"

"What?" Elsa asked, startled by Anna's assumption. "No! It's just that Aidan and Besty are both getting older and will need their own chambers eventually, and I'm sure you'll have another soon. I… " she sighed, placing her hand on her stomach. "I have no announcements to make."

Anna hugged Elsa, knowing how much she wanted to have a child with James. "Relax. It will happen in due time. Mama didn't have you until she and Papa were married almost three years. Kristoff and I were married almost a year before I fell with Betsy. Let's not forget that Aunt Lillian and Uncle Albert were married almost six years before Rapunzel was born. You just need to relax and enjoy being married to your husband, Elsa. Don't try to rush things. Didn't you tell me something similar when Kristoff and I were newlyweds?"

Elsa hugged her sister back. "Perhaps I did. You sound like James. He said close the same thing this morning.

"Well, great minds do tend to think alike," Anna laughed.

Elsa leaned her head on Anna's shoulder, "Whatever would I do without you, sister of mine?" she asked, without even really thinking about what she said.

Anna grew quiet. "Sadly, we know."

"Not a day goes by that I don't regret not opening my doors to you when you knocked, wasting so much precious time together," Elsa told her in a hushed voice.

There was a knock on the door before Elsa could respond. Roda, the children's nursemaid was at the door.

"Your Highness, Her Majesty, The Queen Grandmother requests your presence immediately. It appears that Master Aidan and Princess Elsabet are throwing mud at each other. She also said not to bother Queen Elsa."

Anna sighed. "Of course they have. I'll be right there." She turned to Elsa, "Elsa, go, get some rest and relax. You can't change the course of nature. Things will happen as they happen. We just have to make the most of what we're given. As to the past, it's in the past. We can only work to make our future better."

Anna left Elsa, still staring at herself in the mirror, wondering how life might have been different for her had she opened the door to Anna much earlier. She then saw an inscription in Latin, carved into the wood at the top of the mirror. "Respice in praeteritum mutare," Elsa read aloud.

"Look within to change the past?" She stared within the mirror, thoughtfully repeating the phrase in Latin over and over again, not noticing the strange, purplish, swirling cloud appearing in the reflection. She repeated a fifth time when suddenly a bright light flashed throughout the chambers. When the light cleared, Queen Elsa had vanished.

Princess Anna turned back to get an old apron to put on before dealing with her muddy daughter and nephew witnessing the flash of light. Worried for her sister's safety, she rushed back to her chambers, finding them empty. "Elsa!" she called to the air, knowing her sister hadn't had time yet to leave the room on her own. A second flash of light materialized, depositing on the floor and unconscious Elsa, dressed in nightclothes that Anna vaguely recognized from their teenaged years. "Elsa!" Anna cried out, trying to rouse her sister, but alas Queen Elsa would not awaken.

Here friends, is the first chapter of the new and improved The Past Is In the Past.