Chapter 1: Struggles

The Fall Festival of Arendelle was in full swing in the castle courtyard. Queen Elsa milled about, greeting her guests warmly. Behind her, she could hear her sister, Princess Anna, and brother-in-law, Sir Kristoff, being mobbed by their loyal subjects. Questions abounded the royal couple, one more than any other:

"Your Highness, when will we see a new heir for the throne?"

"Sir Kristoff, have you and the Princess considered trying again for children?"

Elsa breathed deeply and held her head higher as she continued to receive her subjects. She was proud of her family for how the persistent questioning did not seem to bother them. If anything, she was more bothered by the questions... and all the more so by the vague answers Anna kept having to field.

Kristoff and Anna's wedding six years ago had been cause for great celebration in Arendelle. After The Great Thaw, as the bizarre winter-during-summer had come to be known, the couple had married in an intimate ceremony in the mountains, surrounded by Kristoff's troll family. The Queen herself had officiated; the only other guests aside from the trolls had been Olaf and Sven. A more splashy wedding had followed for the kingdom's subjects.

And ever since that time, Anna and Kristoff had desperately wanted a child.

It wasn't for lack of trying, as far as Elsa was aware - that's what married people did, and though that didn't fall within her exact... romantic tastes, she knew Kristoff was never anything but a gentleman to her baby sister. When a little bundle of joy had again and again failed to appear, Anna had done her best to brush it off. She and Kristoff were in their twenties; there was plenty of time yet. Kristoff was only slightly less adept at hiding his disappointment, but his duties as the Arendelle Ice Master and Deliverer kept him fairly busy. During the winter season, he would take Sven into the mountains for harvesting, and there the pair would stay until the winds changed; Elsa knew that a cabin existed somewhere in the highlands for the motley duo. Those weeks were emotionally hard on Anna, spending nights in her bed without her husband, fretting for his safety. Elsa would always try to reassure her sister, saying that Kristoff had a damn fine head on his shoulders and knew what he was doing, but that didn't dismiss the possibility of an avalanche. Blizzards. Or worse.

Anna and Kristoff could hide their sadness and worry from their loyal subjects all they liked, but not from their beloved sister. Elsa's own worry was taking its toll on her duties as Queen.

If only there was some way that she could help them, as much as they had helped her come out of her isolation. Love her without conditions. Elsa commanded a decent sized kingdom and all of its armed forces. She was the mistress of some of the most powerful natural forces on the face of the Earth. Surely she could find the power to help her beloved family?


"Now, the next order of business is to decide upon the renewal of economic sanctions against the Southern Isles..." Kai, Elsa's Chief of Staff, was lecturing during the Queen's cabinet meeting, the Monday after the Festival.

Elsa tried her best to pay attention, but a bothersome migraine was settling into her forehead, and she rubbed her temple persistently.

"Milady?" Kai's voice prompted as the rest of her subordinates turned to her expectantly. "Sanctions against the Southern Isles?"

Elsa waved a hand. "Send them through. The day I lift those sanctions is the day I learn Prince Hans is dead in the ground." There had been plenty forgiveness to go around - forgiveness from Anna and Kristoff, forgiveness from her people. Forgiveness of herself. But Elsa would never forgive the men who had conspired to cast her from power and endanger her sister.

"Very good, milady," Kai cleared his throat. "Now, next on the agenda..."

"I wish to receive my subjects. Hear from the people," Elsa ordered flatly.

Kai blinked for a moment. "Now?"

"Yes, now. Prepare the throne room, please, Kai."

"As you wish, Your Majesty. Meeting adjourned."

Elsa had made it an official policy as Queen to receive her subjects in the throne room once a week, and hear of their troubles. It was usually an open-door, first-come, first-served event, except on the occasion when Elsa might wish to have an audience with a particular individual.

Elsa's subjects adored her, and would often thank her for her understanding and loving attentiveness by presenting her with a gift for her table - crops of the land and other delicacies. Sometimes, the children of Arendelle would come just to be in her presence.

"Any more in the queue?" Elsa whispered to Kai, as the latest farmer departed.

In answer, the castle crier stamped his scepter and announced, "Your Majesty - the Ice Master and Deliverer, Sir Kristoff!"

Kirstoff strode in, clad in his parka and with flakes of snow still covering nearly every inch of him. Elsa deflated in her throne in relief. He was home from another journey into the mountains; Anna would surely be pleased. This one had just been a weekend excursion, and no farther than Wandering Oaken's Trading Post and Sauna - only a few miles into the Arendellian hills.

Kristoff removed his cap and sank to one knee. "Your Majesty, I request an audience."

Elsa waved her hand deferentially, in approval. "What is your desire, young man?"

"I wish to address Her Majesty not as her loyal subject, but as her brother-in-law."

Elsa smiled affectionately. "Of course, Kristoff." She dismissed her courtiers. "Leave us." This was to be a family conversation, and a private one at that.

As soon as they were alone, Elsa and Kristoff warmly embraced. Upon first meeting him, Elsa had been deeply impressed by the adventurer. All the more so when he had come to her alone and asked her permission for her sister's hand in marriage. Kristoff had addressed the matter alone largely for two reasons: 1. Because he had heard the story of Anna's previous engagement and did not wish to upset the Queen with bad memories in the couple asking for her blessing together, and 2. As an opportunity for the pair to get to know one another better.

"Anna will be so happy you're home. Now, what troubles you, Kristoff?"

"If I may be so bold, Your Majesty... you trouble me."

Elsa raised an eyebrow in shock. "Indeed. May I ask why?"

"It is clear something weighs heavily on your mind, and Anna and I only wish to comfort you. Is it... your powers?" The last came in almost a whisper.

Elsa smiled. "No." She had gained extraordinary control over her powers in her acceptance of herself. But, she had to confess, her worry for her family had threatened snow and ice's involuntary emergence a time or two.

"Your duties as Queen?"

"No. I... Kristoff, I worry for you and Anna. I was greatly troubled by everyone's persistent questioning at the Fall Festival. Regarding... a baby. Or lack of one."

Kristoff's smile was warm, but heavy. Wrinkled with age. "Don't worry about us. It will happen in its own time."

"And how long will you keep telling yourself that and believing it?" Elsa asked pointedly.

Kristoff said nothing, swallowing palpably. "Elsa... being parents doesn't matter to me or Anna right now..."

"Please don't lie to me, Kristoff. And even if that were true, it matters to me!" The Queen's eyes threatened tears. "You've both done so much for me. I am the ruler of my own kingdom. I can control the most dangerous natural phenomena on the planet. But I can't help my own family find happiness?"

Kristoff hugged her. "Don't. No one has that kind of power - at least, not in this world."

"I should," Elsa gulped.

"Patience. We love that you care so much. Seeing the real you has been a joy to see... and when you're going to be an aunt, you'll be the first to know." Kristoff winked. "Gotta go. I promised Sven carrots." He kissed her on the cheek and departed. Only when the great doors to the throne room shut did Elsa break down in sobs.

All around her, the thin layer of frost crept onto the walls...