For Better or For Worse

July, 1830...

"Okay...One. Two. Three!"

Nine-year-old Anna ran down a wooded floor hallway that had been recently polished. As soon as she started running, she glided on the floor, thanks to the socks on her feet. She had glided perfectly at the other end of the hallway.

The princess was preparing herself for another slide. Before she even started to dash, she felt a small grip on her shoulder. Followed by the voice that she recognized was her father.

"Anna, what do you think you're doing?"

"I was about to glide down the hallway."

"Yeah, I don't think so."

"Aww, why not, papa?!"

"You could accidentally slide into something. Or trip and fall."

"What if I promise to be careful?"

"Accidents can happen, even if you think you're careful. I'm sorry, but it's best not to take any chances."

"Okay, fine…" Anna slightly frowned as Agdar guided her out of the hallway.

"Why is papa like this? Why won't he let me have fun?" she thought.

While Anna did love attention, she had come to believe as a thing as 'too much attention' over the past few years. She would've enjoyed it once upon a time, but her father's over-protectiveness had changed that.

Surely it couldn't get worse for her.


The next day…

Agdar was in his study dealing with documents. It was something that he disliked, but someone had to get them done. The quietness made it more bearable for him, though. That is until...

BANG! CLANK!

That was the sound that took Agdar's attention. Dropping what he was doing, he went out of his study and headed in the direction of the source of the crash. He was relieved, though also annoyed at the sight where the noise occurred.

"Hi, Papa!" Came Anna, who was in the arms of the knight's armor on display. Just a few inches away was a bicycle lying sideways, front wheel still spinning.

"Not again…"

The princess then made an attempt to get off the armor's arms. One way she did is by squirming. Agdar was not taking any chances.

"Anna, don't move. Let me get you off." Agdar picked up Anna from the armor and placed her on the ground. He kneeled down to her eye level. "Are you alright? Are you hurting anywhere?"

"Nothing hurts."

"Did you hit your head?"

"No."

"Do you feel dizzy?"

"No."

"Feeling sick to your stomach?"

"No."

"How many fingers do I have?"

"Papa, I'm fine," Anna replied, clearly getting annoyed.

But her father still persisted. "Answer the finger question."

Anna gave an irritated sigh before answering. "Five."

"No, that's not right!" Agdar quickly stood to his feet. "Something's definitely wrong. I have..." Agdar gave a quick count on his fingers, suddenly realizing his daughter had answered correctly. "Oh...You're okay."

"Can I go back on my bike now?"

"Well first, tell me what happened."

"I was just riding my bike."

Agdar sternly looked at his daughter. The displayed armor just so happened to be near a staircase. It was clear he got the idea what happened, but wanted Anna to tell the truth. Eventually, his stare had gotten through to her.

"Alright...I was riding my bicycle in the upstairs hallway. I tried to ride it down the staircase...But I ended up hitting something, causing me to fly into the armor."

Agdar shook his head disappointingly. "Anna, what did I tell you about doing that?"

"That it is not safe and I could hurt myself'," the princess replied.

"You are correct, but you did it anyway when I told you not to the last time. Why did you do it again?"

"I...I thought I could do it perfectly this time."

"And did you?"

"No...Are you mad?"

Agdar took a deep breath. "I'm not mad. Its good thing that you're alright. However, you still disobeyed me. I'm afraid I'm going to have to confiscate your bike for a while."

"Okay…I guess I'll go talk to Joan, " Anna replied sadly as she walked away.

Agdar hates punishing his daughter, but this is the only way to get the message across to her. Picking up the bike, Agdar walked down the least he didn't have to worry about his daughter crashing into things with her bike for a short while.

Anna, the past few years had become more...daring. True Anna did odd things such as talking to paintings, and he was fine with that. He wasn't fine with her bouncing, sliding, heck even climbing in odd places. Places that Agdar didn't feel comfortable with.

"That girl is getting bolder and bolder. What happened to that girl who just simply played with dolls? Not doing crazy stunts!" he thought.

Agdar could only hope that it didn't get worse.


The next day...

Queen Idun was walking in the halls. She was reading over a document when something caught her eye. Anna was walking towards her, with a picnic basket in her arms.

"Hi, mama!" Anna greeted with a smile.

"Hello sweetheart," Idun greeted. "Where are you off too?"

"Oh, I'm just going to have a picnic. I have yummy sandwiches. Do you want to join me?"

"I would love to Anna, but I'm afraid I'm busy at the moment. I hope you have a good picnic though."

"Okay!" Anna happily scurried away. "Bye, mama!"

"A picnic. Hopefully, that's enough to put Agdar at ease," the queen thought to herself.

The past few years Idun had noticed Agdar becoming more overprotective towards Anna. She can fully understand his behavior, but she feared that his protectiveness will cause Anna to become more rebellious, or worse, strain her relationship with him. She hoped that it will never cross that line.

Clearly, things can't get worse from there. Right?


30 minutes later…

Both rulers were having tea together. They had finally finished most of their work, so they decided to relax. It was one of the few times during the day they were together doing something they want, rather than their royal duties.

"It's nice to just simply relax, right dear?" Idun brought up.

"It is," Agdar agreed.

The queen gave a small smile. Maybe perhaps he'll just simply relax without worrying himself to death for a change.

"By the way, have you seen Anna today?" Agdar asked.

Clearly, Idun had thought too soon.

"If it'll put your mind at ease, I saw her about half hour ago on her way to have a picnic. There's no harm to that, is there Agdar?" Idun took a sip of her tea.

"I suppose so," Agdar agreed as he took a sip as well. "But I didn't see her in the garden when I walk past by there 15 minutes ago."

"That's odd. Where else could she be?"

The couple ponders the idea where their daughter could be. Agdar's eyes then suddenly widen in realization.

"Where did you see her last?"

"In the upstairs hallway, I believe."

It was then Agdar's eyes when from realization to horror. He then dashed out of the room, followed by Idun. The two quickly made their way to the courtyard and looked around. With reluctance, Agdar looked up to the roofs, his suspicions coming true. Anna was sitting high on the roof.

"How did she get up there?" Idun wondered out loud.

"Anna! Get down from the roof this instant!" Agdar shouted. However, Anna didn't flinch. Most likely because she couldn't hear her father, or was purposely ignoring him. Agdar can only hope it was the former.

It looks that things could get worse.


Much later…

After getting Anna off the roof, Agdar and Idun, mostly the former, scolded her and told her the risks & danger she could've been. Anna, of course, insisted that she wasn't in any danger. Nonetheless, Anna was sentenced to stay in her room until supper. The princess, like any child, would probably react, wasn't happy. But she accepted her punishment.

Once that got dealt with, Agdar was sitting at his desk in his study rubbing his temple. Beside him was his wife.

"I swear, Idun. Each day that goes by, she gets bolder and bolder. I don't know what to do with her if this keeps up."

"Agdar I don't like her getting into these situations either, but I've been thinking that maybe you should let her...cut loose."

"What do you mean?"

"Anna is an active child. She's, of course, going to find ways to shed off that energy. Especially since she's always cooped up in this castle."

Agdar suspect that Idun was trying to make a point.

"Why do I get the feeling you're going somewhere with this conversation?"

"...I think maybe it's time Anna should go into the town," Idun bluntly stated.

"By herself?!"

"Of course not. I was suggesting we take into town more often. Anna hasn't been out of the castle since she was 4. She's just turned 9. Girls her age should be running outside, talking to people, and make friends."

Agdar looked doubtful at Idun's suggestion.

"I know you just want to protect her. Believe me, I understand your concerns. But we cannot shelter her forever. She needs to go out in the sun and socialize with others. If she's going to be queen one day, she should at least know her own kingdom. And for God's sake, let her be a child while she's still one."

Agdar thought about his wife's words carefully. As much he hated to admit it, Idun was right. Anna is almost at a stage where she should be socializing with others.

The king took a breath. "Alright. Tomorrow, we'll take into town, but only if she stays with us."

"Good. And as for here?"

"I guess I should let her cut loose. I should start by giving her bike back. There are still going to be rules though. For one thing, she has to promise not to ride down the stairs anymore. And she can go on the roof, only if she has either one of us, or Kai & Gerda watch her in case something happens. Lastly, she can only slide down empty hallways."

Idun gave a small smile. "I'm sure she'll be okay with that. And she'll most definitely be thrilled about going into town. This will be good for her Agdar. Who knows, maybe by the end of tomorrow she'll have a new friend."

"Let's not get too ahead of ourselves."

Agdar can only hope her suggestion would be a good idea.

For better or for worse, he had no clue.


Here we see Agdar's overprotective side, much to Anna's dismay (:P).

Kudos to anyone if you caught that Finding Nemo reference. I may reference other Disney movies (Pixar included) as well throughout this fic.

And just a heads up, we may be seeing a certain ice harvester and his reindeer friend soon.