A/N: I am exhausted and tired, but I need to write a few more chapters so here I am. I hope you enjoy this; it's going to speed up the ace a bit as I add some plot rather than just mindless fluff and it may get dark with some serious issues being addressed (But don't worry our two lovebirds will make it through) enjoy! R&R!

XXX

A week had passed since the 'yule bell' incident as Gerda had put it, the sore heads and blinding migraines the following day only just wearing off; both teens swearing never to drink again. Light snow had begun to fall, dusting the rooftops with a pristine blanket each day and the countdown to Christmas itself was decreasing. Castle staff whisked busily around polishing statues and plates until they were near perfect mirrors. Agnarr had stayed in his office each day, sending regards to all the royal families he was related to, albeit tenuously, and wishing them a merry Christmas. For the most Part Iduna had spent her time in the town, visiting the orphanage and delivering gifts from the castle to various charitable institutions; despite it being a holiday, no rest was in sight. Agnarr picked up a letter and used the worn letter opener in the shape of a sabre to rip it open. Reading the parchment his face fell, an audible groan escaping his mouth.

"What's the matter your majesty?" Kai asked, concerned for the king.

"My Auntie, Queen Ethel is visiting us, her ship is arriving this afternoon"

"Oh"

"Oh Indeed, you know what happened last time! This is a disaster!" Agnarr let his face fall into his hands, rubbing the temples violently.

"Your majesty; leave it to me" the older man nodded at the king reassuringly.

"Thank you, kai, I'd better go and warn Iduna" the men set off in opposite directions, Kai immediately ordering around lingering staff to prepare for the visit and Agnarr jogging towards the observatory. Her hair was loose, cascading down her back in a warm waterfall of browns and golds; the sight was enough to make him melt inside.

"I have some bad news" Iduna looked up from writing the endless Christmas cards, her brow knitted in concern. "My aunt is coming to visit; she is here this afternoon"

"Why is that bad news? We have plenty of food at the castle" Iduna stood up, a knot forming in her stomach.

"Let's just say, she's not exactly the most liberal of people" Agnarr started rubbing his hands in a tense motion "She isn't going to like us being together"

"So you haven't told her" Iduna shot him a look that could kill.

"Errmmm" he mumbled.

"Why?" she asked, her steel glare unbreaking. "Are you embarrassed about me?"

"What no! No! It's just, I don't really like talking to her because of what she said about my mother after she died, I wasn't expecting her to come and visit, especially after dad..." he trailed off, a dark expression filling him.

"What do you plan on doing" her voice was sturdy, but her gaze had softened a little.

"Nothing, she either accepts you or not. At the end of the day I'm king here not her so she will have to respect my wishes whether she likes it or not" it was Agnarr's turn to be sturdy now, a hardened expression that Iduna called his 'king face' taking over him.

"Good, when is she arriving?" Iduna asked, returning to writing her Christmas cards again.

"This afternoon" the pen hit the floor.

"This - Afternoon?!"

"This afternoon" he nodded solemnly.

"But there's the dinner to be sorted, and the accommodation!" she began to ramble on, her voice slowly slurring the words together as she, suddenly felt self-conscious.

"It's okay, Kai has it handled" Iduna let out a sigh of relief, sinking back into the chair, throwing her head back so her chocolate locks drape down to a few inches above the floor. Agnarr moved behind her and started running gentle fingers through her locks, she groaned out of relaxation at his touch.

"What is she like?"

"Impulsive, rash, harsh and nasty"

"Are you sure she's related to you?" Iduna asked, giggling as he wrapped a finger up in her hair.

"Unfortunately, yes, Europeans pride themselves on lineage for some reason" he sighed, stroking her hair softly. "I wish I could just escape to the woods with you"

"Your people need you Agnarr, and the woods aren't that amazing when you're used to a castle. There's no chocolate!" she erupted into fits of giggles as she feigned her outrage and distress.

"I know, still, it doesn't mean I wish it can't be just you and I in a log cabin somewhere under the northern lights." he pressed a kiss to her head.

"That does sound... Dreamy" she let the last word ring out.

"Iduna, I don't care what my aunt thinks of you. Just know I love you no matter what for who you are." He looked straight into her eyes, admiring for the millionth time the sapphire blue colour of them.

"I know, and I love you too despite your crazy family. You'll always have me"

A knock on the door broke them apart.

"Your majesty, she is here" Kai said through the wooden panels.

"Already? It's only 11AM!"

"I know your majesty; she is insistent she sees you immediately" Agnarr sighed aggressively, cursing under his breath, Iduna already tying up her hair with some red ribbons.

"No point in delaying it Aggie, might as well face the music" she hugged him from behind tightly holding the door open and gesturing for him to follow.

Standing outside the great hall Iduna took a breath and felt Agnarr's hand squeeze hers reassuringly. "It's okay Iduna, I'm here" she gulped nervously and nodded, pushing the door to the great hall open. An elderly woman, with silver hair and a ruby encrusted crown sitting on her head stood imperiously at the other end of the hall. A crimson dress flowed down her body and a garnet necklace hung from her chest. Her face was pale and drawn, wrinkles and age decaying at her features slowly, the pale thin lips scratching across her face were the only signs left of her mouth. She stood imperiously, her age not eating away at her pride, and smoked an ornate clay pipe which she took a long drag of before she spoke.

"Agnarr! So good to see you my boy" she walked towards the couple, completely ignoring Iduna, and wrapped her free arm around the boy's shoulders.

"And you too aunty, what brings you here?" he asked, still unsure as to why exactly she was visiting.

"To see you over Christmas of course! Dear boy I thought you'd be smarter than your father" Agnarr narrowed his eyes as he bit back down the urge to retaliate.

"How long will you be staying?" he asked, the irritation in his voice evident.

"A few weeks, no more" Agnarr bit down his need to shout out at her, the rage nearly boiling over.

"How nice" the words came out sharp through gritted teeth.

Ethel turned to Iduna "Servant girl! Fetch us some tea!" she said sharply, taking in another long drag of smoke from her pipe. When Iduna didn't move she forced it out in a sharp exhale. "Come on girl any time of the day!"

"Aunty Iduna isn't a servant" Agnarr stepped between the women.

"Then what is she? Decoration?!" Ethel's green eyes met Agnarr's the callousness in her voice biting through Iduna's heart.

"She is my girlfriend" he took a step back and joined hands with her. Ethel took another long drag and held it in, stepping towards Iduna she eyed up the brown-haired girl with a calculating coldness. A foot away from her face she exhaled, the foul smoke choking Iduna making her eyes water and her lungs burn, she leant down coughing.

"What family are you from. Girl."

"None of Arendelle" she replied, her resolve reinforced with anger.

"That I could tell by your skin colour. Which country are you from?" Ethel's unnerving gaze pierced through Iduna.

"This one"

"So, you're common" Ethel finished, taking another drag and blowing the smoke directly in Iduna's face. "please tell me this is some joke" she turned to Agnarr, her gaze now blazing with fury.

"It's not. I am officially and publicly courting her" Agnarr took Iduna's hand and squeezed it, waves of relief flooding through her at the presence of him.

"She isn't even Norwegian, look at her Agnarr!" Ethel took a sharp and short drag of her pipe, exhaling the putrid smoke through her nose.

"I am from the north" Iduna found her voice. "I already know the customs of your court as Gerda has taught me"

"Oh forgive me, you're not a commoner" Ethel placed her hand to her heart. "You're one of those primitive savages that hug trees"

The words bit through Iduna and she fought the stiffness in her throat begging her to cry. Agnarr spoke up.

"How dare you speak to her like that!" he shouted at Ethel, stunning the older woman. "Whether you approve of her or not is not applicable. The fact is that I and Iduna love each other and no matter what you say or do that will not change. You are not the queen of Arendelle." the sternness in his voice shocked Iduna, never seeing this side of him but it made her heart swell at how protective was over her.

"I will peak to her how I please. I may not be the queen of Arendelle, but neither is she. She probably isn't even fully human. Look at her Agnarr" she took the boys chin and forced it towards Iduna "She isn't white, she isn't civilised and she sure as hell isn't suitable as a queen. See that your senses come to, don't dirty yourself with her."

"That is enough!" he broke her grip and glared at her. "Kai! See to it that Queen Ethel is shown to her quarters"

"It would be a pleasure your majesty" Kai grinned, eyes narrowing at the old woman.

"Mark my words Agnarr, only beasts come from animals!" she shouted as Kai escorted her to the guest wings. He sighed angrily and turned around to face Iduna.

Silent tears streaked down her face. Heartbroken he cooped her up into his arms and held her tightly, silent sobs racking her body. "Iduna look at me" he placed two fingers under her chin and raised her face so he could see her tear streaked blue eyes. "You are the most amazing, most beautiful, most kind, most sweet girl I have ever known. I love you and will forever love you. Ignore them, ignore everyone who wishes you ill. You mean everything to me and one day you will be queen." he sealed his speech with a gentle kiss on her lips. She leant into him, her brown hair streaking in front of her face as she hugged him tightly.

"The cabin option is still open" she whispered between sobs, making both laugh.

"There's one phrase I remember from learning Latin" Agnarr stroked her hair softly like before. "Non illegitimi Carburundum"

"What does it mean?"

"Don't let the bastards get you down"

XXX

Dinner was a tense affair, Ethel perpetually smoking her pipe, filling the hall with a putrid odour. Iduna and Agnarr sat together at the table head, Kai moving a chair around so they were sat next to each other, reinforcing that their love couldn't be broken. When the final dessert came out, Ethel cleared her throat. "Iduna, I'm sorry we got off on the wrong foot before. Here is an 'early Christmas present' from me. She walked over to the couple on the other side of the long table and presented a small cardboard box wrapped with a crimson bow to Iduna who took it cautiously. She fiddled with the ribbon, feeling the glare of Queen Ethel on her back and eventually the box came undone. Inside was a small porcelain pot, Iduna picked it up and popped the lid off, revealing a white paste that smelt chemically inside the tub.

"It's a makeup, for your skin problem" Ethel placed two cold hands on her shoulders, making Iduna jump.

"Get out" Agnarr grumbled, shooting a death-glare at the elderly queen, who simply smirked and sauntered out of the room. Iduna's face fell, a darker expression consuming both of them; Agnarr's one of Anger and Iduna's one of sorrow. At that moment, kai walked into the room three plates of pumpkin pie balanced on his arms.

"That lasted long" he commented, placing the three dishes in front of the teens. From his pocket he pulled out a small box of chocolates and gave it to Iduna. "I thought you may need these" he said gently to her, her eyes lighting up and a thankful smile replacing the look of pure sorrow. Kai left without another word, leaving the couple alone in the hall.

"She's evil" Agnarr said, breath erratic with white hot fury.

"Remember what you said to me" Iduna said surprisingly calmly.

"She's not a bastard, that's a compliment for someone like her" his jaw was hard set, words hissing through his teeth.

"Agnarr do you love me?" she asked, looking at his face.

"Of course I do! I..." he protested but was silenced by Iduna placing a finger on his lip.

"Then that's all that matters" she finished for him, placing a kiss to his lips that lingered for a few seconds longer than he expected. "Look on the Brightside, we get to have more pumpkin pie!" she said eagerly digging a fork into the extra plate of pie, he smiled, all anger removed from his face as he let Iduna place a forkful in his mouth. Soon, the dishes were cleared off and the chocolates empty as Iduna rested her head on his shoulder at the table. "Merry christmas Aggie" she whispered.

"Merry Christmas fluffy bear" he replied, smiling at the nicknames. "Come on, let's go to bed; we need to wake up early tomorrow if we want to give our presents to each other before Mistress Lucifer wakes up" Iduna laughed at the name for Ethel as Agnarr pulled her to her feet, the two heading giddily towards the private wing of the castle.

Agnarr didn't notice Iduna slip the white makeup into her pocket.

Nor did he notice the nail marks in her skin.

XXX

A/N: Wow, plot for once! Please R&R it means a lot to me, sorry if the chapters recently have been a bit meh, I'm half dead so I'm trying to pump out some material when I'm knackered. Hope you enjoyed! Also feel free to PM me about plot ideas / theories.