I always felt that the king and queen of Arendelle were just as misunderstood as Elsa; while many fans hated them for "abusing" their daughters, I saw them as victims as well. Alls they ever did was try and help their daughters. They only ever had the best intentions for them. They didn't know what would happen, so they tried to deal with it as best as possible; it's not like they could see the future and see Elsa turn Arendelle from a warm town to a frozen tundra! So here's a one-shot on what I think the parents of Elsa and Anna thought, specifically the queen. I hope people understand their characters more. Everyone makes mistakes, after all! ((Note: the names of the King and Queen are from the translations of their tombstones seen in the actual film))

I hope you enjoy the story! Please review!

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It was still dark when she woke up, the sky still alight with stars. It was often like this during this time of year. She quietly changed into her royal dress and had one of the maids assist her with her hair before placing her crown atop a spiral of thick, dark hair.
"You look regal," her husband said kindly. She smiled softly at him and they both left their room and headed down the hall. The entire castle was still quiet, and the king and queen were careful not to wake any of the other servants or stewards.
"Should we wake them?" the king asked the queen. She laid a hand on his arm and smiled sweetly at him.

"I'll check on them. Chances are they're awake and playing," the queen murmured. Her hand closed on the doorknob and she creaked the door open a tiny bit, peeking her head in. The two beds in the room lay empty, one tidied up as if no one had slept in it, the other rumpled with blankets strewn all over it. Toys were scattered on the floor, but the room was quiet. The queen turned back to the king.

"They're not in there. Do you think-" She was cut off by a loud scream.

"MAMA! PAPA!" Idun looked up at her husband in dismay, his face mirroring hers.

"That sounded like Elsa!" she whispered. The king and queen raced down the stairs towards the ballroom. Agdar went to open the door, but it didn't budge.

"It's stuck!" he said in shock, throwing himself against it. Idun rushed over and pushed the door on the opposite side. After a few moments, the doors finally gave way and slammed open. Idun stared around in shock. Ice covered the sides of the doors, and the whole room was frosted over. And in the middle of the ballroom, kneeling on the floor, sat Elsa, cradling the head of her sister Anna. Idun's hands flew up to her face, her mouth forming a shocked O.

"Elsa, what have you done?" Agdar demanded. "This is getting out of hand!" The young girl looked up at them, worry and concern in her blue eyes.

"It was an accident!" she protested, turning back to her sister. "I'm sorry Anna." Idun reached down and picked up her youngest daughter, who now had a streak of white in her pale ginger hair, holding her against her chest with fear.

"Oh! She's ice cold!" Idun exclaimed, pulling her daughter closer.

"I know where we have to go." Agdar said, his arms encircling his wife and daughter.

The king hurried to the library while Idun took Elsa and Anna to the stables, cradling a still unconscious Anna, Elsa clumsily running beside her. Idun climbed onto one of the royal horses, careful not to fall as she gripped the reins with one hand. Elsa stood by the other horse, trembling with fear. They waited until the king came running into the stables, picked up Elsa and put her on the saddle.

"It's okay Elsa. You need to calm down," Agdar coaxed his daughter; the spot where Elsa had just been standing had a thin coating of ice. Elsa stared in fear at the frosted floor and nodded at her father. He smiled and climbed onto the horse, seating himself behind her.

"Idun, you're going to have to ride by yourself. Can you do it while holding Anna?" the king asked in concern. His wife nodded at him, her face pale and her hands white from gripping Anna close. The king and queen took hold of their reins, and took off, their horses galloping down the bridge that led from the castle to the village. They darted around the tiny village houses, and followed the pathway that led to the forest. Idun clutched Anna, the girl's skin feeling colder and colder. Idun also noticed that a path of ice trailed behind Agdar and Elsa's horse as they rode on, grass turning into jagged, frozen blades and Idun felt her heart clench. Oh Anna! Elsa! My poor daughters!

After what seemed like the eternity, Agdar pulled his horse to a stop, dismounting quickly and helping Elsa climb down. Idun slowed her horse to a halt, and awkwardly climbed down, shifting the unconscious girl in her arms. The royal family walked into the middle of what appeared to be a clearing, centered around multiple hot springs and boulders. Idun grabbed Elsa's hand as Agdar took a few steps away from them.

"Please! Help!" He called out desperately. "Its...my daughter." His voice echoed around the clearing, and nothing but silence followed. Idun glanced around before returning her gaze to her husband's. What was he expecting to happen? He hadn't mentioned what he had found in the library, just that it could help Anna.

Suddenly, the boulders that surrounded them began vibrating violently and they rolled down the hills towards the family. Agdar backed up and held his wife and Elsa close, the three pressed against each other, staring at the boulders. They were surrounded in seconds, and the rocks strangely formed a near perfect circle around the royal family. Staring at them in wonder, Idun thought it was the strangest thing she had seen until the rocks popped up and a hundred or so pairs of eyes blinked up at them.

"It's the king!" a voice whispered, and many more echoed him, filling the clearing with a quiet murmur. Trolls? They're trolls? Idun thought. One of the trolls stepped forward, a grass-like cape on his back and multiple glowing crystals hanging from necklaces.

"Your majesty," the troll said with a gravelly voice, bowing before his eyes settle on Elsa. He motioned the girl forward and Elsa took a hesitant step towards the troll, Agdar holding her shoulders in comfort. Idun wanted to hold them both and cry, but she knew it would be unseemly and unhelpful, so she watched. "Born with the powers, or cursed?"

"Uh, born! And they're getting stronger!" Agdar said urgently. Born with the powers...Idun shook off the thoughts and memories that surfaced with that one phrase. She looked down, only to see the old troll motion her forward as well. She quickly walked forward and knelt down, holding Anna out so the troll could see her. The troll looked her over, nodding solemnly.

"You are lucky it wasn't her heart. The heart is not so easily changed," he rasped, narrowing his eyes. "But, the head can be persuaded." Idun felt her heart beat faster. Was he saying he could help Anna?

"Do what you must." Agdar insisted. The elderly troll nodded, and placed his hand on Anna's forehead. Idun fought the urge to move away and guard Anna. He can help her, she reminded herself.

"I recommend we remove all magic, even memories of magic." He waved his hand, and for a moment, vague images of Elsa and Anna playing in rooms covered by Elsa's magical snow appeared. The images blurred and suddenly Elsa's magical scenery was replaced by natural, outdoor backgrounds. Idun felt conflicted; she wanted Anna to be safe and healthy, but it felt like a betrayal to remove her memories of her and Elsa. "But don't worry. I leave the fun!" He patted the young girl, and in her unconscious state, her frown was replaced by a smile. "She will be okay." Idun wanted to let out a cry of joy, but she repressed her feelings and instead hugged her daughter close, allowing herself to smile. Agdar leaned in and squeezed his wife's shoulder, smiling at Anna as well. Elsa, however, was staring at her sister in confusion.

"So, she won't remember I have powers?" she asked, eyes wide. Agdar laid a hand on her shoulder.

"It's for the best." he told her. Idun smiled at Elsa, but secretly she wondered, was it? Would taking Anna's memories of Elsa's powers accomplish anything? If Anna didn't know about her own sisters powers, how many secrets would they have to make to keep this one? Wouldn't it be easier to help Anna and Elsa just play safer?

"Listen to me Elsa. Your power will only grow," the old troll spoke slowly. Idun stared at her eldest daughter. Her powers will grow? But she is already so powerful! What else can she accomplish? And not for the first time that night, Idun questioned her husband's decision to bring them to the trolls. The old troll continued speaking, once again conjuring up beautiful images in the sky above them. "There is beauty in it-" the image formed a blue silhouette of a figure, gracefully controlling the snow around her. Elsa? But suddenly, the image changed, the light blue figure suddenly radiating red. "-but there is also great danger! You must learn to control it! Fear will be your enemy." The beautiful image suddenly dissolved, the figure suddenly being bombarded by bright red forms around it. Elsa shrieked and quickly turned to her father, burying her chest in his shoulder. Idun gasped. No, she would let nothing harm Elsa! Elsa wouldn't hurt anyone, and she couldn't let anyone try to hurt her daughter.

"No!" Agdar said sharply, hugging Elsa with one hand and Idun with another. "We'll protect her! She can learn to control it, I'm sure." Idun nodded quickly. She would help her daughter of course. She would ensure that Elsa had a chance at a normal life, just as Anna and any other little girl would. "Until then...we'll lock the gates, reduce the staff and limit her contact with people." Idun's head snapped up, eyes locking with his. His were filled with pain, just as she was sure hers were, but why was he saying this? How would any of this help Elsa? Did he really think isolating Elsa from humanity would help her? Idun opened her mouth to speak, but Agdar cut her off. "We'll keep her powers hidden from everyone. Even Anna." Idun shut her mouth and blinked rapidly, trying to hide the tears forming. My baby girls, what will happen? Elsa's face showed a mixture of misery and fear. Just when Idun thought there was a way to escape this situation with everyone happy and her daughters safe and sound in her arms, their world, the entire family's world, collapsed.

XXX

"Elsa? ELSA!" Idun looked up from the book she had buried herself into and frowned. Anna's high pitched squeal reached down the hallway, echoing along the walls. The little girl had been running up and down the halls for days, trying to get her elder sister's attention. Elsa however, taking the old troll's advice to heart, had quickly gone and hid in her room, refusing to speak to Anna. Idun and Agdar had warned their eldest daughter to be careful with her powers, and to not use them around Anna. But now Idun feared that Elsa was too afraid to leave her room. Idun nearly froze when Anna, skipping happily down the hallway as usual, had stopped to ask her mother why part of her hair was white.

"I-it's...you were born with it darling," Idun stammered. Anna nodded as if this made sense.

"Oh. I thought I might have been kissed by a troll!" Anna chirped before skipping away, leaving Idun with a shocked expression, staring after her youngest daughter.

But now Anna was trying once again to get Elsa's attention. Knocking on the door, peering under the door, singing through the keyhole, Anna didn't give up. But Elsa repeatedly turned her sister away. Agdar was with Elsa at the moment, after she fearfully called for her parents, and they had run into her room to find that her windowsill was frozen and Elsa was clutching her hands.

"Elsa, it's okay. What happened?" Agdar said softly, trying to soothe his daughter.

"I was looking out the window and I-i must have lost control!" Elsa squeaked, hugging her arms.

"You didn't lose control," Agdar soothed, kneeling next to the nervous girl. "You just need to practice controlling it. I think I know something that could help." He got up and turned to walk out of the room, pausing next to Idun. "Don't worry dear, I'll help calm her down. You go relax somewhere." Once again, Idun felt paralyzed. Her heart told her to stay and run across the room so she could hug her daughter, but her mind told her to nod and follow Agdar out of the room. She glanced over at Elsa, who was sitting on the cushion by the window again and carefully avoiding the ice window sill. Spinning on her heel and trying to convince herself that it was okay, Idun paced her step and walked into the hall. Just before she exited the room, she turned back.

"You'll be okay Elsa. We love you," Idun whispered before going back to the library to continue her book. After Idun had tucked Anna into bed, she headed back to her room. As she opened the door, she was surprised to see it was empty. Agdar must still be with Elsa. Idun took off the pale green crown and undid her classic spiral, letting her thick strands of hair and long bangs fall forward. After about half an hour, the door creaked open just as Idun was beginning to write a letter. She looked up from her piece of parchment.

"Is Elsa okay? Did you help her?" Idun asked quickly, hiding her letter and sitting up in bed. Agdar sat on the bed and held her hand.

"Elsa is okay now. She just frightened herself. I gave her a pair of gloves to help her," Agdar reassured his wife.

"How will the gloves help?"

"They'll help her control her powers. When she doesn't want to use her powers, they should prevent her from using them. She gets so scared now of her powers, she needs to have something that will help her," Agdar said. Idun looked down at her hands, one grasping her husband's hand, the other pale white and folding into a fist.

"Are we sure this will help her?" Idun murmured. Agdar sat down next to his wife and took her hands in his.

"I think so. It's not hurting her; this way she believes she can control her powers better. Maybe if she believes it, she'll be able to control them," He said.

"But we don't know for sure," Idun pointed out.

"No, we don't," Agdar said sadly. Idun felt like weeping; was this some punishment, being forced to watch her daughter become terrified of herself, while Idun could do nothing?

"I don't know what to do!" she exclaimed, a tear rolling down her face. Agdar squeezed her hand, and a tear glistened on his cheek as well.

"Neither do I," he whispered.

XXX

Even after the years that had followed the fateful night where Elsa had covered half the castle in ice, she still was fearful of her powers, especially around Anna. The two sisters no longer played together every hour of everyday; Anna began to entertain herself with other activities, though she still persisted in asking Elsa to play every once in awhile. Elsa spent most of her time in her room, and Idun noticed with sorrow that each week, Elsa asked more and more to have dinner in her room rather than in the large dining hall with the rest of her family. Idun once spent an afternoon with Elsa, reading her stories from the library in the castle.

"Did you want to do something else? We could go outside if you like," Idun had asked Elsa. Her daughter had given her a calm answer, but there was evident fear in her eyes.

"No, but thank you Mama," Elsa said. Idun nodded and gave her daughter a smile, but inside she was worried.

"You could play with Anna," Idun suggested.

"I'm having fun here. I like you reading stories to me," Elsa had replied. Idun noted that Elsa wouldn't make eye contact with her on the topic of Anna, and she said nothing about Anna.

"Your sister is lonely. She needs someone to play with her," Idun commented, closing her book. "I found her riding her bicycle down the hallway a few days ago." Elsa giggled then abruptly stopped, realizing what she had done.

"Anna is fine. She plays tons of games without me," Elsa said slowly. Idun's smile wavered.

"Your sister misses you, dear. You don't have to hide from her."

"I still see her!" Elsa insisted loudly. "I'm helping her. If I use my powers near her, I could hurt her again! And she doesn't even remember I have powers!"

"Maybe, but that doesn't mean you should ignore her. You're getting much better with your powers! It couldn't hurt to play one game with Anna," coaxed Idun.

"I can't let her know! I don't want to-" Elsa cried out, then clutched her hands. Idun quickly set her book down and began to get out of the chair she was sitting in.

"Elsa, are you okay?" she asked in a concerned tone. Elsa shuffled away.

"I'm fine. Thank you for reading to me. You should go now." Idun flinched; she had never heard Elsa speak like that before, and to hear such a dismissive tone coming from her daughter scared her.

"Honey, it's okay-"

"I want to be by myself for now," Elsa said quickly. Idun frowned, reaching out her hands, but Elsa had moved away to the windowsill.

"Okay then," Idun said sadly. "I'll come back in a little while, okay? I love you." Elsa nodded slowly, but she was staring at Idun, watching her, as if any step she took might put her in more danger. Idun walked out of the room, slowly closing the door behind it, lingering just long enough to hear Elsa murmuring to herself.

Get it together. Conceal, don't feel. Conceal, don't feel.

XXX

"I'm scared!" Elsa cried out. "It's getting stronger!" The eldest princess was staring in horror at her hands, the corner of her room covered in a cold frost. Agdar and Idun had rushed to their daughter's room when the maid came down in a fright. Agdar was trying to calm her down, while Idun moved closer, trying to reach out and embrace her daughter.

"Calm down. Getting upset only makes it worse," Agdar soothed, leaning forward as if to hug Elsa. She jumped back and shrieked, holding her hands far away from her parents.

"No, don't touch me!" she yelled. Agdar pulled his hands away in shock, and Idun's hands flew to her mouth. Tears filled her eyes and a lump filled her throat. Elsa, oh Elsa, what can I do to help you, the queen thought. Elsa, realizing she had scared her parents, then spoke with a calmer tone. "Please, I don't want to hurt you." Idun placed a hand on her husband's shoulder, unable to speak, but both of their eyes were filled with sadness and despair at being helpless to aid Elsa. Don't cry, you'll only worry Elsa, Idun told herself, attempting to blink the tears away, but it didn't make her feel better. Agdar looked just as defeated as Idun felt, and she wondered when, if ever, their family would be whole again.

XXX

The quick footsteps that sounded down the empty halls made Idun look up from the bag she was currently packing. Anna, now fifteen, was running down the corridor with a smile on her face, braids bouncing up and down as she opened her arms to hug her parents.

"See you in two weeks!" Anna said with a smile, though she seemed sad to see them go. Agdar and Idun both leaned in for a hug, wrapping their arms around their younger daughter. The past few months had been calmer ones, but they were quiet. Idun had almost forgotten what noise was, but every now and then Anna filled the castle with sound again, trying out a new activity that could be better than simply sitting in the ballroom and talking to the pictures. There's just one person missing from this, Idun thought.
That day, Idun and Agdar were leaving for a wedding in a nearby country, with one other stop along the way. The two monarchs hardly ever left their kingdoms anymore, and even their own town of Arendelle seemed unknown ever since the gates had been closed. Before, townspeople would simply gather in the courtyard of the palace; now, they were barred behind the gates, and Idun missed the cheerful faces of the villagers who used to greet her and Agdar when they walked around the town. Anna gave them a final goodbye before running back to her room, off to do who knows what.

"Kai, could you help me with the bags?" Agdar asked, turning to the chief steward of the castle.

"Of course, your Majesty," Kai intoned with a bow. Idun picked up her bag, ready to carry it down the stairs but Kai quickly hurried to her side and relieved her of the baggage. Unnecessary, Idun thought, But Kai would never let me so much as lift a finger anyways. As the king and queen descended the stairs, Idun noticed a slim figure with pale blond hair pulled into a tight bun emerge from the side and curtsied low. Idun smiled at her daughter and motioned for her to stop her bow. Elsa looked up cautiously, her hands still holding her dress as if she were stuck in her curtsy.

"Do you have to go?" Elsa asked softly.

"Don't worry, Elsa. You'll be fine," Agdar said in a reassuring tone. Idun smiled at her daughter. At this point her parents had learned that no matter how hard they tried, Elsa would no longer allow them to hug her. Idun wanted to reach out again, but the wary look in her daughter's eye told her that Elsa would not allow it.
"Your Majesties, the ship is waiting at the docks," Kai reminded them.

"Thank you Kai," Idun said before giving Elsa one last look. "We'll be back soon, Elsa. We love you." Elsa nodded and stared at them as they left the castle, quickly retreating back to her room before her parents had even exited the building.

"Your Majesties," the captain of the ship said with a bow as they reached the docks. Idun nodded to him as she boarded, Agdar following close behind as soon as the luggage had been loaded. Idun left her husband with the captain, heading to the stern of the ship while the two men talked. She looked out over the peaceful fjord that surrounded Arendelle, the water a glassy golden color from the setting sun. The castle stood to her left, and for a moment, Idun thought she saw a pair of eyes peek out from behind a curtain, but they disappeared in a second.

Don't worry, Elsa, Anna. I'll find a way to help you and our family can be happy again, she promised internally.

I'll be home soon.