As the December moon rose higher in the night sky, all of Arendelle was asleep, except for one person. Arendelle was a quaint area tucked into the edge of a deep fjord. Mountains surrounded most of the land. A forest and steep hillside edged the remaining sides. In the humble wooden castle tucked into a deep fjord, a person stirred.
The young Queen gingerly and carefully got out of bed. She didn't want to wake her husband, the King. She'd awaken some time ago and she couldn't get comfortable.
The Queen wrapped a shawl around her shoulders. She rubbed the small of her back, trying to alleviate the ache. The past few nights she'd been awakened by similar pains. In fact, most of her body ached. She knew that time would eventually take care of her soreness.
Quietly, the Queen headed towards to the windows and smiled. She'd only been the queen of Arendelle for a little over a year but she felt as though she'd always been here. She hoped, the Heavens willing, that her future children would feel as she did.
The Queen absentmindedly caressed her large belly as she thought about raising children here. The hamlet that she could see through the castle gates, looked so peaceful. In fact, everything looked peaceful with the moon light cast over it. She smiled again. She couldn't think of a better place to raise children.
The Queen jumped when a hand was placed on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Idun," said her husband, "I didn't mean to startle you. I noticed that you were up and I wanted to make sure you were all right."
Idun smiled at her husband. In the beginning of their marriage they were awkward and shy around each other. With Idun expecting a child any day, that awkwardness was replaced affection and caring. It wasn't simply because Idun was carrying the heir to the throne. The young royal couple had become close to one another.
"I'm sorry, Agdar," said Idun, "I didn't mean to wake you."
"Are you all right? Is it the baby?"
"No," Idun groaned as she shifted. "I just couldn't get comfortable."
"What's wrong? Do you need me to get you anything?"
"No, I'm fine. This little one is just ready to come out." Idun said as she tried to rub her own shoulders. "I think it should happen any day now."
Agdar took over rubbing his wife's shoulders. "I'm excited to a father."
Idun sighed, "Thank you, Agdar, that feels good. I'm also excited, nervous but excited. I hope we'll be good parents."
"I think we should be; we know what to do. We will love and be there for him or her."
Idun nodded but frowned as she cradled her large stomach. "I know we'll do fine. I think I'm just nervous."
"I understand why you would be so nervous since you lost your mother when you were a young girl. Even though you didn't have an example of a mother when you were growing up; you are kind and caring. You will be a wonderful mother."
Idun squeezed her husband's hand. "Thank you and you will be a wonderful father." Idun smiled as she gazed out the window. "Isn't it beautiful out there? The full moon makes everything look so peaceful. I was thinking about that when you startled me."
"I'm sorry about that but you're right. Arendelle is a beautiful place to grow up."
Idun tried to hide her yawn. Suddenly, she was very tired. "Isn't it strange that it hasn't snowed yet ?'' She said as got to the bed.
As Agdar helped his wife into bed he said, " Yes it is. How things have been in the past; if we don't have Snow by the first day Of winter then We have trouble without crops the next year."
It took ldun many attempts to find a comfortable position. Once she did, she was so relaxed that She started to drift asleep. As she was- falling asleep, ldun said, " There's one more day before the first day of winter. Perhaps it will snow."
''Yes ,"said Agdar warily, "Perhaps.'' He looked out the window at the cloudless sky. The moon shined bright. Joining his slumbering wife in their bed, the King did not see the meteor shower.
The early morning routine carried on as usual. Although most people kept an eye on the cloudless sky. The temperature was cold enough for snow yet the sky held no indication of it. That was how it had been all December.
By early afternoon, word came to the King that clouds were spotted coming over the North Mountains. There was a chance some snow might fall. Everyone was hopeful.
As the clouds increased, Idun noticed a change in her body. Occasional sharp pains became more intense. It was time. Idun was in labor. Before long the heir would be born.
The Queen was helped to her room as the midwives were sent for. Since this was the Queen's first child, there was no way of knowing how long childbirth would take. All precautions were taken. King Agdar was the last in line for the throne. This child, the heir, was very important. Everything must be done to insure the safety of mother and child.
Clouds gathered and thickened as the Queen was made as comfortable as she could possible be. As snow began to fall, the midwives were certain that it would be a long night. The Queen was just starting to have labor pains but she was a long way from being ready to have a child.
The King waited for updates. He was worried about his wife and unborn child. He knew there was a possibility of difficulties. He was also getting updates about the weather.
Hour by hour the storm was getting worse. By midnight, there was about a foot of snow on the ground, but there was no child yet. As the Queen's labor pains increased, the storm seemed to get stronger. The wind wailed and whipped the snowflakes around ferociously. There were times when it wasn't known if it was the wind or the Queen screaming.