Life's Too Short
As soon after the royal family had their little reunion, Anna was immediately treated with the utmost care. First, she had gotten the warm meal, along with a glass of hot chocolate. After the meal, she was checked out by the royal doctor, despite telling him she was ok. However, her father wanted to sure. Once she was cleared by the doctor, she was then given a warm bath, to which she spent almost an hour before being put on new clean clothes.
Once Anna had been taken care of, it soon came to the inevitable confrontation with her parents. Earlier, Kristoff had left to take care of his own business so he wasn't with Anna. The family was currently in the throne room and it was just them. Her parents had asked her questions about what happened. She told them how she wasn't paying attention and accidentally ended up in the wolves territory, which led to her being chased by them and getting separated from her horse.
"What happened after that?" Agdar asked.
"I tried to walk back here," Anna answered. "But I ended up getting more lost. The blizzard just made that worst."
"How did you survived that storm?" Idun asked.
For the moment, Anna didn't say anything. Ruling monarchs or not, she knew it was wrong to lie to her parents. But she couldn't let them know about Elsa. Throughout the years, she had heard stories about how several kingdoms have persecuted people with magic and dubbed it as witchcraft. One example she can recall were stories about Arendelle's close trade partner Weselton, or WeaselTown as she secretly likes to call it, had once held witch trials long ago in which many of the accused ended up executed. While Arendelle hasn't had a history like that, she didn't know how her parents felt about magic but didn't want to risk Elsa being hunted down as a witch.
"I found a cave and hid in it." Anna decided to attempt to move on from the topic. "I guess you can say I got lucky. Really lucky."
"Please just stick with that."
Her parents just looked at each other for a moment. They looked as if they weren't sure what to say.
"I suppose that's good to hear," Agdar said. "But why didn't you come back after the storm ended?"
With that question, Anna mentally panicked. Quickly, she composed of reasons why she didn't come back soon after. Then she gave her answer.
"During the storm, I tripped over something very hard. My ankle was sore and I wasn't sure if it was sprained or not. Since I didn't want to risk potentially making it worse, I stayed in the cave until I was sure it was better," Anna explained.
That wasn't a total lie. Her sore ankle is what had prevented her from leaving Elsa's ice palace. But it was still partly a lie since Anna had made the choice to remain with Elsa from the days after the storm. She decided to quickly finish up her survival story.
"I stayed there until earlier today when I figured it was fine. I walked until Kristoff & Sven found me. Well, technically Sven found me first, but you guys get the idea. And here I am, safe & sound." Anna paused for a moment. "But...I suppose you want to get to the elephant in the room."
Anna paused as she lowered her head. She braced herself for the scolding her father would give. To her surprise, all she got was her father patting her shoulder.
"Like I said earlier, we can discuss that later," Agdar said as his daughter looked up at him. "For right now, we're just happy you're back."
Anna gave a small smile, as she hugged her father again. As they had their embrace, Idun watched them. The queen was surprised how...lightly her husband was taking it in. Like Anna, she had expected Agdar to give her the scolding of the century. Granted, it was justifiable given that Anna disobeyed him, but she was afraid that he would go overboard.
"How about this?" Agdar brought up. "From the rest of the night, nothing else matters. It's just going to be me, your mother, and you. How does that sound?"
"I'm okay with that," Anna said. "After all, you've both spend many days being so unsure, but now that I'm back you both can rest assure."
"Well it was a rough few days, but now there's nothing to fear. All it matters right now that you're back here."
"We've been worried about you for so long," Idun added. "So let's forget who's right."
"And forget who's wrong," Agdar said.
"Okay!" All three said in unison.
"Why don't we talk, now that you're back in this court?" Idun said. " 'Cause life's too short!"
The whole family was familiar with that phrase. Like Agdar did, Idun had her own mantra, 'Life's Too Short'. One she had valued since she was a young age. It was a lesson her parents had taught her and her sisters. A lesson she had passed down to her family.
"To always feel restricted and closed when there's things to be explored," Anna responded.
"Life's too short."
"To not be where you belong, a place where you'll always be loved," Agdar added.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Anna followed.
"I never understood, but now I do."
"Life's too short to miss out a family like you."
Idun looked at the happy sight of her husband & daughter. She thought perhaps for once, they would not clash and just be happy.
"So how's my horse?" Anna asked her father.
"Oh, he's fine," Agdar responded.
"Do you think he'll be able to ride soon? Especially far distances."
"I'm not sure. Why do you a-?" Agdar stopped himself as a sudden realization came to him. "You're not serious, are you?"
"What?" Anna said. "I was wondering if he is so that-"
"That you go back out there. That's your story's ending!"
"Sort of!" Anna called out to her father as he turned away. "It's just like it was, except that we're more understanding ."
"But that's been your plan?" Agdar quickly turned back. "To go against my command?"
"Whoa, whoa!" Idun quickly chimed in an attempt stop where she'll fear this conversation will go. "Don't get upset, let's get back to the subject on hand."
"Alright! I think that's enough of this exchange," Ignoring Idun's words, Agdar gently grabbed Anna's shoulders and started to walk her to the throne room door away from the queen. "But hopefully we're all on the same page." He stopped halfway in the throne room and let go of Anna for a moment. "Okay! Now that's all done, let's make some new rules, that we won't abort! Thank you!"
"Wait!" Idun called out as her husband.
"Please don't do this Agdar. You were doing so well."
"Cause life's too short-"
"There you go!" Anna cut off her father. Idun stopped in her tracks and watched the entire exchange. "Those rules you'd love to shove to my face! You did well there for a spell but now you're back in the same place." As she went on, Agdar made a small eye roll and face away from his daughter. This had prompted Anna to make her point clear. "Lecture me all you want, but I think it can be applied that your behavior most of the time is a hundred percent unjustified!"
Idun made a small gasp as Anna said those words to Agdar. While Anna didn't see it, her father had a shocked yet hurt expression on his face. However, he quickly suppressed those feelings and face his daughter once again.
"You don't know what you're talking about because that's not true! You're a child who doesn't listen!" Agdar retorted.
"What is it with you?!" Anna said, trying to hide the hurt feeling in her voice.
"I swear! I'm through with taking your outrageous family support!" Father & daughter said as they walked away and their backsides faced each other. "HA! Life's too short!"
"To let you treat me as a fragile doll," Anna said as she turned to face her fathers back. "Like you have throughout my entire childhood. Life's too short!"
Agdar rubbed his temple as he tried to block her words out. Even though they were true. He quickly turned to face his daughter.
"To listen to a reckless girl who doesn't understand what I do is for her own good."
"You don't know…" Anna started.
"You have no idea…" followed by Agdar.
"What I've been through!" Both Anna & Agdar said at the same time. "Because of/To protect you!"
It was at that moment Idun realizes that this conversation was going nowhere. It had kept on getting worse. This was not the first time she had witnessed her husband & daughter clash. Most of the time she let them she would let them blow off steam and only interfered if it was getting out of hand. This time, however, was different. This was perhaps the worst she had ever seen them. As they started walking towards each other, it was then the queen realized that she had to put a stop to it now. With two people with fiery personalities such as Agdar & Anna, it was a recipe for disaster.
"Life's too short to waste another minute," Agdar said.
"Life's too short to even let you shut it!" Anna retorted.
"Life's too sho-!" They both had said at once.
"ENOUGH!" A loud shout ceased the argument. The pair's eyes look to see Idun taking deep breaths. "It would see that maybe we're just a little tired from the past few days." The queen spoke after a period of silence.
Agdar's expression turned to what Anna like to call his 'king face'. It was a very neutral expression. One that he wore during meetings in order to hide his emotions. It sometimes made Anna uneasy.
"Perhaps you're right dear," Agdar agreed. "I think we all need some...rest. We will finish this in the morning."
"No, we'll finish it now."
"Anna, as the king, you are ordered to listen-"
"No! You listen!" Anna once again cut off her father. "My whole life you do these things because it's supposedly for my own good. Did you ever once consider asking myself what's good for me? NO! You go around telling me what to do, what not to do. Claiming it to be best for me! Well, guess what? They're not!"
"Anna, what do you know what's best for you?"
"More than you! All you know is being paranoid!"
Those words had stung the king like a hornet. For a moment, Agdar's king face was replaced with somewhat of a somber one, but he still retained his king face."...This conversation is done. Now, excuse me." He said as he regained his composure before walking away.
"Dear, I don't think you-" Idun started as Agdar was walking.
"Well, I am!" Agdar quickly retorted as he resumed his walking. "Goodnight."
"Papa, no! No, wait!" Anna grabbed her father's arm. "I'm not done!"
Agdar quickly turned around. "Let go of my arm!"
"Papa please, please! I can't take this anymore!"
The king stopped in his tracks and turned to face his daughter. The look on Anna's face was one that ached Agdar's heart. On the face of his daughter was a look of sadness, desperation, and confusion.
Despite what Anna may believe, Agdar did not enjoy putting his daughter through this. For a moment, he wanted to tell her why. He wanted to tell her about her lost sister. How he lost her from his safe embrace and the pain he had felt in the months after. But once again, the voice in his head told him otherwise and he remained silent. He couldn't bear to tell her. The pain was just too much for him. She was not ready to know yet.
"It's for the best," Agdar replied to Anna, while also trying not to choke up.
Anna's expression just dampened with a mixture of sadness & disappointment. Her grip on her father's arm loosen and it was soon released. Not bearing to see the disheartening look on her face any longer, Agdar turned around. Crossing his arms and taking a deep breath, he started walking away again. He had to keep mentally remind himself that she'll understand one day. As he walked, he recited his mantra repeatedly in his head to keep his emotions in check.
Conceal, don't feel.
However, Anna just had about enough. This was the one moment where she can finally learn why her father treats her the way he does. That opportunity was walking away from her. She wanted, no, she needed to know. Now.
"Why on earth are you like this?" Anna shouted.
"Enough, Anna..." Agdar commanded.
Conceal, don't feel.
However, Anna did not intend to stop.
"No! Why? Why do you shield me from the world?"
Conceal, don't feel.
"Why are you scared of the world?"
Conceal, don't fe-
"What are YOU so afraid of?!"
And then, it happened. Something in the king snapped and he turned around. The storm building up within him had finally raged out as he did.
"I WON'T LOSE YOU TOO!"
The room had gone silent. It was so quiet you could hear the smallest pin drop. The only sound heard was Agdar's heavy breathing after his outburst. Anna had just stood in her spot in a confused state. The words her father had practically shouted repeated in her head over and over. Idun just looked at her husband with wide eyes, wondering if he realized what he had just said.
"L-lose me too?" Anna broke the silence after a short period. "What do you mean 'lose me too'?"
It was then the king realized what he had said. He started breathing rapidly as panic built up within him. He quickly looked over at his wife, who was just staring at him.
"Papa?" The king heard his daughter say.
Agdar took another look at Anna, who was still in a very confused state. In his head, he contemplated many things to respond. However, he would not use any responses. For he did something he was no stranger too. He ran.
"Papa?!" Anna called out as her father ran out of the throne room. "Papa, where are you going?"
The princess was also about to run after her father. She still needed answers. However, a gentle grip on her shoulder had prevented her from doing so.
"Let him go," Anna heard her mother's firm but soft voice say.
"But I...he...what's going on mama?"
For a moment, the queen was hesitant before answering. "Anna...whatever questions you may have right now, we'll answer them tomorrow. I promise."
Before Anna could respond, Idun left the throne room as quickly as her husband did. This left an alone, and an even more confused Anna. Idun quickly walked through the hallway when she had run into Gerda.
"Your majesty!" The servant exclaimed. "Is everything alright? I just saw the king running down here."
"No, it isn't." The queen wanted to say.
"Everything is fine Gerda. Nothing I can't handle." Idun responded. "Could you & Kai take care of Anna's needs for the rest of the evening, please?"
"Of course my queen."
After saying her thanks, Idun resumed her walking. She needed to find her husband quickly. Fortunately, she just has several ideas on where he might be. And she didn't care if he was shutting out or not. She needed to talk to him.
"So much for a family reunion…" Idun thought sadly.
The moment he had entered his study, Agdar took that moment to compose himself. Words can't even describe how he was feeling at this moment. He paced back and forward in the room, rapidly, while also constantly changing the positions of his arms, from being crossed over his chest to having both hands on his head. Many thoughts were scrambling through his head as he tried to calm himself.
"Get it together. Control it. Don't feel. Don't. Feel."
A knock heard on the door interrupted his train of thought, however.
"I don't want to be bothered right now," Agdar almost shouted.
The sound of the door opening and closing was heard. Agdar grew more irritated, assuming it was just an overly concerned servant. Turning around it was not a servant that had entered.
"Idun?" he muttered. "What are you?"
His wife slammed the door shut. "You and I need to talk."
So if you guys figured out the hint, congrats! This chapter was inspired by the deleted song Life's Too Short (once again, included lyrics)and 'The Party is Over' scene from the movie. They're two versions of the song (A soundtrack & storyboard version, both of which can be found on YouTube) so I think either version can work well here.
Now we all know that in the film, Agdar & Idun weren't exactly...100% good parents. By that I mean they had good intentions and loved their daughters, yet they ended up negatively affecting them. But that's what I like about them. They're both complex humans that make human mistakes. Not villains like some people like to see and its a shame some people see them that way. I honestly believe that they're the most misunderstood characters in the movie. You can dislike them for the decisions they made, but they're definitely no Gothel nor Frollo. Its like the line from the movie.
"People make bad choices when they're mad, scared, or stressed."
While this is an AU fic, I would think after what happened to Elsa, Agdar (I mostly believe Agdar was somewhat of the instigator in the film) would probably still have those traits from the film. Doing things he deemed for the best, but still ended up negativity affect his daughter. In this case, Anna.
I always imagine Idun as the family peacekeeper. 'A Frozen Heart' (which, as far as I'm concern, is canon to the movie) stated that whenever Agdar was about to lose his temper, she always managed to calm him down. Though I also see her as some who puts her foot down when she needs too (or basically she goes I-DUN with your shit...yeah bad joke). Maybe even helping him realize his mistakes. Heck the novel even stated that she and Agdar were going to end Elsa's isolation once they came back from their trip (and we all know why that didn't happen...). We don't know what made them come to that, but I like to think it was Idun's doing.
Anyways, I didn't mean to go on a rant here. I just needed to get that off my chest. I hope you guys still enjoyed the chapter though.
Thanks for the favs, follows, and reviews. Happy Reading. (Also, Happy Valentines Day).
P.s I have decided to add 'Kristoff' to the character tag.
