A/N: Thanks to everyone who's followed/favorited and/or is reading but not reviewing.:)

Sorry for the late update.:/

Olivia O'Neil-Thank you:) Good job-that sounds like a good grade to me.:) Elsa and her father do need to mend their relationship, and Agdar needs to understand that Elsa is always going to be just...Elsa, and stop wanting her to not be herself.:/

the green baron-Glad you liked it.:) It just seemed like something little Elsa would probably do. She seems like the type of child that would say something like that...little Elsa would have known no one would believe that, so she would probably excuse the lie in her head that since no one believes it, it's not really lying.:P

Elsa Tomago-Anikka is only 5, though...she just wanted Elsa to play with her.:P But you're right; she really shouldn't have asked Elsa to try that since she knows about Elsa's leg. But it did end up making Elsa happy, so it didn't matter.:)

moohamjang-Thank you!:) I agree-Elsa shouldn't abdicate, but right now she just feels like she's not good enough.:/ (Without spoiling anything, I'll just say that even if Elsa DID abdicate, I would never never take the queen position away from her permanently. Just no. No, no, no.)

raven678-Thank you:) I thought Elsa needed to do something silly for once. She's so serious all the time, and I think there's still the slightly mischievous and playful little Elsa inside her somewhere.:) I agree-Elsa shouldn't go to Niko's house by herself.

On to the story!:)

After receiving directions from Nikoleta, Elsa and her father started to leave the castle for the children's house. (Elsa had decided that she didn't want to risk Nikoleta's safety by allowing her to come along.) I should hint around what I've been thinking to Papa. I want to know what he's thinking… "Papa," Elsa ventured slowly, "do you ever miss being king of Arendelle?"

Agdar stopped short and just stared at his daughter. "What kind of question is that, Elsa? And I still think we should take the royal carriage for this trip. Might make these people more willing to release truthful information." Not to mention Elsa might not be able to walk all the way there…or if she can, she'll be completely exhausted.

"I won't use fear to force people to tell me something," Elsa replied firmly. She frowned when her father just picked her up so she wouldn't have to walk over an uneven section in the courtyard. "Papa, I can walk by myself; I'm not a baby. And please ask first." I know he's just trying to help, but I can do it by myself.

"No, you aren't a baby, but you also can't walk properly. I don't want you falling and hurting yourself again." Agdar continued carrying Elsa all the way to the castle gates before setting her down, despite Elsa's obvious embarrassment. He frowned as he watched Elsa's reaction. She had dropped her gaze to her bad leg and made a face, although Agdar was very sure she wasn't mad. She just looked upset.

Before Agdar could say a word, Elsa asked, "Papa, do you still think I'm d-defective?" Elsa's voice sounded a bit childish, but she stood up straight and unsuccessfully tried her best not to limp as the two of them continued walking. Elsa sighed, knowing no matter how hard she tried, she was not going to be able to walk 'normally'. She just couldn't. Usually she didn't particularly care, at least not a lot, but right now she felt like her father was somehow embarrassed to be seen with her. Elsa, you can't help that; it's not your fault. Just…try not to think about it.

"Absolutely not, Elsa." Agdar was a bit stung by Elsa's question, but he knew it was his own fault Elsa had asked such a thing in the first place. He stopped and put both hands on his daughter's shoulders and looked her straight in the face. "I have to admit I would much prefer my daughter to be normal, but you are not defective. I am sorry I made you think of yourself like that in the first place," Agdar said quietly.

Elsa impulsively gave her daddy a hug, not caring that they were in public.

Agdar quickly pushed her away. "Elsa, stop it. You're the queen and you're in public, for goodness sakes. If you have to have a hug so much, you can have one when we get home."

"I'm sorry, I just-"


"We don't care, sir," a friendly female voice said suddenly. The woman gave Elsa a reassuring smile and added, "Queen Elsa, you just go right on and give your father a hug all you want. Seems perfectly appropriate to me."

Elsa's cheeks turned a bit pink, but she smiled back at the woman. I recognize her. That's Netta. The one with baby Eva. She let me hold her baby that one time. "Thank you, Netta. How is baby Eva?" Elsa usually didn't like initiating conversations, but this time she didn't mind.

Netta was a bit surprised Elsa remembered Eva's name, although she knew the queen had liked holding baby Eva very much the summer before after Elsa had given her speech. "She's fine, at home with her daddy. She still loves that ice crown you let her keep, Queen Elsa." She paused and frowned a bit, noticing that while Elsa's smile was genuine, it didn't quite reach her eyes. Those big blue eyes looked…pained somehow. And while Netta had heard that the queen had hurt her leg somehow, she hadn't seen Elsa in person since-at least not up close-and seeing present-Elsa bothered her a bit. Netta didn't think for one second that Elsa wasn't fit to be queen anymore, but she was quite honestly rather worried about her. Was something or someone hurting her? Had something bad happened to her that wasn't just an accident of some kind? Why had Elsa, who Netta knew had absolute authority, apologized to her own father for trying to give him a hug, of all things? Was the former king treating her badly because she could no longer walk very well? That's the same man who kept Queen Elsa in that castle for over a decade. What if…It's none of my business; it's not my place to ask her if she's all right. But… "Queen Elsa, are you…are you all right?" Netta finally asked quietly, hoping she was doing the right thing. "I know it's none of my business and I understand if you don't wish to answer, but I…I just want you to know your people love their queen and we want to see you well and happy."

Elsa nodded and just said thank-you, just as Agdar yanked her aside. "Of course my daughter is all right. What are you implying?" he demanded. "What business is it of yours to ask the monarch that?"

"With all due respect, sir, she is the monarch, and she quite honestly looks like she's in pain somehow. Queen Elsa is injured, obviously, and I daresay it's only polite to ask that when someone's-" Netta cut herself off when she felt a cool hand on her arm. "I'm sorry, Queen Elsa."

"You don't need to apologize," Elsa said firmly. "Papa, you owe Netta an apology for snapping at her. All she did was ask me if I was all right. She…she was just being nice." Elsa turned back to Netta and gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm not sure what you heard about what happened to me, but it was an accident. And my leg does not hurt; I just can't walk without wearing a brace now. I'm not in any pain, I promise." Elsa, that's not the kind of pain Netta saw. She saw emotional pain. You didn't cover it up well enough. Stupid.

Netta knew Elsa was telling the truth but not telling the whole story; but she didn't say so. "Well, Queen Elsa, I hope you get better soon. Thank you for asking about baby Eva," Netta replied. I don't think most people would notice, but there's something wrong with her, and it's not an injured leg, either. Netta remembered seeing Agdar in person when he had been king, and he hadn't come off the same way then as he did now. The former king wouldn't have snapped at one of his citizens back then like Agdar had just done. Suddenly Netta was a hundred percent sure that Elsa had been, or was being, abused, and that Agdar was nervous someone would find out what he had done to her. I believe Queen Elsa when she said her leg got hurt by accident, but I think she's hurting inside, and that is not an accident. Netta knew how fast rumors spread about the queen, so she decided she wouldn't tell anyone about her suspicions. She would not damage Elsa's reputation for no reason; the young girl always did a fine job in Netta's opinion. The only bad thing she had done was freeze everything the summer before, and she had fixed that within days.


"Elsa, what on earth were you thinking, telling that woman all that information about yourself?" Agdar scolded a few minutes later once they were on their way again.

Elsa flinched but almost instantly shot back, "What were you thinking, snapping at Netta like that? All she did was ask me if I was all right. Besides, all I told her was what was wrong with my leg. I'd rather she know the truth than whatever rumors are going around." I didn't explain what was wrong with me inside. That would be stupid, I agree.

Agdar's voice softened as he replied, "It's not her place to ask you that, Elsa. I know you're just trying to be nice, but no one needs to know that information. Now everyone will know you're…disabled, that you can't even walk without wearing that brace. I know you can't possibly think that makes a good public image." He glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, and then awkwardly tried to give Elsa a hug.

But Elsa just backed away, her hands clenched in fists as she struggled not to let any ice out, her blue eyes blinking rapidly as she tried not to cry. "Don't call me 'disabled', and don't call anyone else who's hurt like that, either. Not in that 'that's bad and needs to be hidden' sort of way," she whispered fiercely. "What does my stupid leg have to do with 'public image'? Nothing! Even if it did, anyone can see I limp and I'm wearing a brace on it. If people can see anyway, then they may as well know the truth. And don't patronize me, Papa. Just…just leave me alone. I'll go to Nikoleta's house by myself. Just…go away." Elsa could feel ice tingling all over her, and her leg was starting to seriously hurt, but she was determined not to show it. Right now she just wanted her daddy to leave her be. But Papa didn't mean anything by saying that. I know he didn't. Why does that somehow make me feel worse? "Papa, sometimes I do feel self-conscious because of my leg, but I know I shouldn't. Knowing some people are thinking like you do makes it worse. That…that doesn't make me less intelligent, or less of a person," she said softly. "You're being prejudiced, not just towards me, towards a lot of people."

"Elsa, that's not what I meant, and you know it. Stop acting so childish."

"Papa, yes it is. You said 'I know you can't possibly think that makes a good public image'. Because of this." Elsa pointedly held her skirt a bit aside so her brace would show and then watched her father's reaction.

"Stop that, Elsa," Agdar replied, genuinely trying not to be mean to her. I just don't want people taking advantage of her because of that. Someone will end up hurting her again like Jade did. Elsa doesn't understand…no one is going to be as accepting as she is. I know I am most definitely not…

Elsa bit her lip. "That is exactly what I mean, and it isn't fair. Are you embarrassed to be seen with me because I'm not your definition of 'normal'?" Elsa's blue eyes were bright with tears, and she roughly swiped them away before just shaking her head and walking away. I'll take care of this on my own. I knew trying to go somewhere with Papa by myself was a bad idea.

Agdar sighed and just followed along behind Elsa, not wanting to leave her alone. Elsa's truthful words hurt, and that was his own fault. Different or not, he wouldn't leave her to deal with Nikoleta's parents by herself; he was worried they might hurt her somehow.


When Elsa arrived at Nikoleta's house per the directions, she took a deep breath before knocking on the door. Okay, Elsa, you can do this. You have to make sure Nikoleta and Eliot will be safe, and get their parents' side of the story. She instinctively flinched when the door was suddenly flung open.

"Yeah? What do you want? Not interested in buying anything," a woman that Elsa assumed was Nikoleta's mother spat.

"M'am, I am not trying to sell an-" Elsa started, but the door being slammed shut again cut her off. Oh, come on. That woman was drunk. Elsa, don't give up. You knew this wasn't going to be easy. She bit her lip and knocked on the door again, bracing herself for whatever reaction would happen.

"I said beat it!" the woman shouted from inside.

"No," came the firm reply from outside.

The door whipped open again, and Elsa quickly ducked inside before the woman could kick her out again. "Sorry for intruding, but-"

"You should be! Now get out!"

Elsa stepped backward, her hands held up defensively in front of her, as the man she assumed was the children's father came into the room. Suddenly she wished she'd just let her father come along. This was dangerous. The woman was obviously drunk, and she knew the man had hurt Nikoleta. These people might hurt her too, queen or not. Elsa, calm down. You have your powers. If you have to, you can easily get out of here…right?

"What did you let the queen in here for, woman?! This place is a hole!" the man shouted.

"The queen? What're you talkin' about? The queen isn't here, just that girl. And I didn't let 'er in! She came in!"

" 'That girl' is Queen Elsa, you idiot!"

Elsa figuratively froze as the couple began arguing. What was she supposed to do? That man hit her. Even if she's a horrible wife, he's not supposed to do that. Do they even know I'm here? "Stop it," she tried to say, but Elsa felt like her mouth was glued shut. She was horrified. Why were they fighting? Was the man angry because his wife was drinking, or was the wife drinking because her husband was a creep? Probably both? I don't know.

Elsa's body tensed up all over when the man came up to her. "Where is my daughter? I know she came to you! She wouldn't have gone anywhere else!" he yelled.

"You have two children," she squeaked, unsure what to say.

"The younger one doesn't count," he replied in a quieter voice, brushing Elsa's comment off.

Now Elsa was angry. She glared straight at the man, standing as tall as she could. "What do you think of me as reigning monarch?" she asked flatly. "Truthfully."

The man just looked puzzled now. "You're fine, Queen Elsa. Why would anyone think otherwise? You take care of everything; you took over that rat's duchy thing or whatever. Don't want you in my pigsty of a house, though." He shot a scathing look at his wife at that.

Elsa hesitated, unsure how to get her point across. "Well…I…I can't walk properly, either. Your son Eliot is a nice little boy and you shouldn't ignore him because he's different." Elsa gave the man a lopsided smile and added, "I'm sure we can work something out so Nikoleta and Eliot would be safe and loved here." She yelped a second later when something hit her across the face; then was puzzled when the man started apologizing and begging her not to hurt him. "Sir, I don't want to hurt you; I just want your children to be safe," she replied quickly, holding one hand over her eye. My family is going to have a fit and say I shouldn't have come here.

Three startled heads turned to the door when they heard sharp knocking on the door. "Open in the name of the queen!" Elsa sighed and went over to the door, recognizing her father's voice instantly. The second the door was open, Agdar marched inside. He took one look at Elsa and then just stepped protectively in front of her. Elsa stepped around him and ignored his protests. She had to keep the situation under control herself; she knew her father wouldn't hesitate to arrest the man for hitting her, and she didn't want that. "Excuse me, everyone, I think this can be settled very easily. You, sir, are under official warning from me. I will allow your children to remain here, but under a few conditions. You will not hit them, especially not out of pure impulsive anger like you did to me. You will not ignore them. You will get a job, and Nikoleta will keep any money she earns to do with as she chooses. You will make sure Eliot receives schooling-you may send him to the castle for lessons if you like. If any of these conditions are broken, the children will not stay with you any longer, and you will be fined and arrested for child abuse and neglect. Good day." I wanted to actually get their side of the story, but I don't think they'll tell me anything anyway, and especially not with Papa here.


The second they arrived home, Agdar found Gerda and just said, "Gerda, fix Elsa's eye. That idiot she visited hit her. Elsa said she was going to her room." He knew Elsa wasn't seriously hurt, but he was very angry that someone had hit her like that and then she hadn't even punished the someone for it.

Gerda frowned. "Mr. Grieg, Miss Elsa just has a shiner though, right? She's not concussed or anything, is she?" Gerda asked. I hope Elsa's all right…

"Yes, yes, she 'just' has a black eye. But those children's dad hit her!"

"Well, I'll check her, but you know Miss Elsa can't really use ice to make it feel better…" Gerda shook her head and went to find Elsa.

Agdar just sighed. Why didn't Elsa do something? And if she couldn't, why didn't she at least punish those people for treating her like that? But no, she was just all concerned about those kids.

A/N: I'm VERY sorry about the long wait.:/

I wanted to show in this chapter that Nikoleta's and Eliot's parents aren't totally evil; they're just kind of...really terrible parents. And not particularly pleasant people.:P

Also Agdar was right in thinking Elsa shouldn't go to that house alone, but he messed things up (again) with Elsa since he doesn't want people to know she's hurt and can't walk properly. Of course poor Elsa just thinks yet another person isn't treating her the same simply because she's not so-called 'normal'.:/

Next chapter coming soon!

P.S. The next chapter of 'Child of Ska∂i' should be posted later today.:)