A Family Secret

February 21st, 1836

The next morning at the castle was a slow one for Anna. She was very tired. Yesterday was just so exhausting for her. The previous night she couldn't even fall asleep as her mind with plagued with many questions. It didn't even help when Kai & Gerda refused to answer them as well. Anna was sitting in the dining hall, alone. The feeling deja vu swept through as she ate her breakfast.

Once she had finished, Anna left the dining room and wandered the halls aimlessly, contemplating what to do to keep her distracted. Hide in her room, talk to the paintings, or even go to the library? All those she quickly brushed aside. Anna then remembered her horse and decided to check on him. She made her way out in the courtyard and went into the stables where she soon found Kjekk.

"Hey boy. You miss me?" Kjekk nuzzled her, to which Anna giggled and petted his snout in response. "Don't blame yourself. I'm okay now. I'm glad you got away from those wolves."

"Didn't expect to see you here," a familiar voice said.

Turning her head, Anna saw Kristoff along with Sven, who was eating a small hay pile.

"Oh, Kristoff! Am I happy to see you right now."

"I'm gonna guess things didn't go well with your folks."

"You could say that…"

"Oh boy, how long did you get grounded for? Two, three weeks? A month?"

"Actually...I don't know if I am."

Kristoff can only give her a weird look, not sure what Anna meant by that statement. This lead to Anna explaining the events that had occurred since she last saw her. This had also included the intense argument she had with her father. She brought up how her father looked to be finally understanding to going back to his overprotective paranoia.

"...Every time I think he's gotten past this stupid phase, he always proves me wrong!" Anna exclaimed while waving her arms. "Its like he thinks I'm incapable of taking care of myself. Like I'm still a helpless baby that needs to be constantly watched over. Sometimes I feel like he doesn't like me for who I am."

"I'm sure it's not like that," Kristoff tried to assure her.

Anna scoffed at that statement.

"Really? 'Cause whenever I tried to get him to understand, he hardly ever listens. And when he does he always has this bothered look, like the chefs got his meal wrong." Anna took one of her braids and place the bottom tip of it on her upper lip, imitating a mustache. " 'Excuse me, cook? I'm afraid you brought me the wrong offspring.' " She said, mimicking her father's voice and posture in a sarcastic matter. " 'I wanted an extra quiet heir with sophisticated grace. Extra obedience and regalness on the side. This here? This is a yapping chicken bone!' "

At that last sentence, Anna lets go of her braid and plump down in a pile of hay. Kristoff & Sven slowly went over to her side. The former sat next to her and place a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Look, Anna..." he started. "I'm may consider your father an acquaintance, but I know he doesn't think of you that way."

"And what makes say that?"

"He's your father. He loves you no matter what," Sven brought up.

"Sven's right, y'know," Kristoff said.

"Well, papa sure has a weird way of showing that love," Anna stated.

Silence fell over to the group. Wanting to break it, Kristoff decided to further the conversation on what happened last night.

"So...What happened after that?"

"That's when things got...weird," Anna spoke after a small period of silence. "Mama stopped the argument and my father attempted to walk out. I stood my ground, finally telling him how I felt about his methods that he said were good for me. But that didn't work and he still attempted to walk away from the conversation. There I finally told him that I had enough of it. I guess in my frustration, I just flat out asked what was so he afraid of…" Anna stopped for a moment, but Kristoff could tell that she was going to say something else.

"And then…what?"

"He said that he wouldn't lose me too," Anna answered. "After that, he looked as if he said something I wasn't supposed to hear and just ran off. Mama soon followed him, but not before saying that what questions I have would be answered tomorrow. Haven't seen both of them since."

"That's...interesting."

"Why do you say that?"

"It's just that, I overheard some guards in the group I was in searching for you mention something about a loss of some sort that had struck your family long ago."

Anna's eyes had widened a bit at that revelation as she looks at her friend. Never in her life had she ever heard of something like that occurring in her family.

"What kind of loss?"

"I don't know. I assumed it was gossip so I just tuned them out. But now that I think about it, it could explain why your dad is the way he is."

Anna reflected on her friend's words. Did some sort of tragedy happen in her family long ago? If so, why didn't her parents tell her? More importantly, could it also explain why her father is the way he is? It would certainly explain some things. The question is if its true or not.

"Princess Anna?" A familiar voice brought the pair's attention.

"Oh hi, Kai." Anna got to her feet as she saw Kai standing in the doorway of the stalls. "What brings you here?"

"Your parents wish to see you," Kai answered. "Immediately."


The previous night…

"You and I need to talk," Idun said as she slammed the door in her husband's study.

"Idun please, just leave me alone," Agdar retorted.

"Oh no. You are not going to hide away from your problems, again."

"I can certainly try."

"Really? Cause that worked out so well for you before, didn't it?!" Idun added that statement with sarcasm, but Agdar could sense the truth in her voice. "Now I can clearly see Anna gets her stubbornness from your side of the family."

Agdar didn't bother responding to her statement. Instead, he just sat down on the couch. Neither of them said a word.

"What I am doing wrong, Idun?" He spoke up after a while. "I give freedom, I lose Elsa. I gave some restrictions, I almost lose Anna. I honestly don't know what to do."

Idun walked over and sat next to her husband. She placed her hand on his shoulder and another on his arm.

"There's one thing you can do."

"What?"

"We have to tell Anna the truth."

Agdar's eyes widen as if she had said something crazy. Like she had confessed to wanting to commit regicide.

"No..." Agdar broke the silence.

"And why not?" Idun argued. "We've should've told her about this by now. It's been 15 years, Adgar. After what happened the past few days, Anna definitely deserves to know."

"It's not whether or not Anna will be able to handle it…"

"Then what is it?"

"Don't you get it? I can't...I can't tell her."

"You can't or you won't?"

"I-I don't know."

"Yes, you do. Please Agdar, just tell me why. Please don't shut me out again."

Agdar looks at his wife. It was clear that she did not intend to stop until he gave an answer. And she called him the stubborn feisty pants.

"You want to know the truth?" Agdar said with some somberness. Idun nodded in response. "It hurts," he choked up. "Every time I even think about what happened, it hurts. When my mother and my father died it hurt, but I manage to move on. This kind of hurt is different. It never goes away. I hate feeling like this."

Idun watched her husband close his eyes a look away. She could tell that he was trying not to cry. That did not stop the tears from escaping his closed eyes. She placed her hand on his cheek, wiping the tear away with her thumb. Her husband faced her, her hand still on his face.

"Dear…" Idun started. "I understand how much it hurts you. It hurts me too. But hiding it from Anna won't help. You know how much she wonders why you do this. She should at least understand why. You & I both know the time would come."

"I...I know. Ever time I consider telling her, I keep telling myself that maybe we don't have too." He paused for a moment. "But you're right. I have been holding it off for so long. She needs to know. "

"So does that mean?"

"Yes...tomorrow we tell Anna."


In front of Anna was the closed door of her father's study. Once again, deja vu went through her. The last time she was summoned had led to all of the events of the past several days. And like before, she had felt nervous. Summoning all her courage, she knocked on the door.

"It's open."

Taking a breath, Anna opened the door. Like last time, both of her parents were in. Unlike last time, they weren't at her father's desk with their appearance of monarchs. They both were sitting on the couch across from the fireplace without their professional royal appearance. Only the appearance of her parents.

"Hey guys," Anna greeted as she walked over to them.

"Hello sweetheart," Agdar greeted. "Why don't you pull up a chair?"

Anna compiled as she moved one of the lone chairs in the room closer to the couch. Once she did that, she sat down. After which no one said anything to each other.

"Sooooooo….how are you both doing?" Anna attempted to break the awkward silence.

"We're doing fine, thank you," Idun responded. "Did you sleep well last night?"

"Oh, yes I did."

"That's good."

Silence had once again entered the room. No one was sure who to speak first.

"Kai said you both wanted to speak to me?" Anna brought up.

"Yes. We do," Agdar repiled.

"Is this about last night?"

"Somewhat related, but not entirely," Idun responded.

"This is something...we should've told you a long time ago," Agdar said.

"Okay, what is it?" Anna asked.

Before they answered her question, Anna noticed her parent's change in their expressions. They looked as if they were...heartbroken, her father especially.

"Anna," Agdar started. "Have you ever hear of any...rumors of some sort?"

"Didn't you always tell me to never listen to them because they tend to be nothing but big piles of bullshit?"

"Anna! Language!" Idun exclaimed.

"Those were papa's words, not mine!" Anna lifted her arms up in defense.

"They were, were they?" Idun gave a small glare at her husband, who just shifted awkwardly in his spot.

Agdar gave a small cough before continuing on the subject.

"Um, anyways. My point is that have heard anything like those? Specifically, ones related to our family?"

"Not really…" Anna paused before she remembered her small conversation with Kristoff. "Aside that earlier, Kristoff did tell me he overheard some of the troops talking about a loss that happened while they were searching for me. I'm not sure if it's true or not."

"That may as well be true."

"It is…?" Her parents both nodded.

Neither of her parents said anything. They both looked at each for a moment. Each one gave a slight nod to one another.

"It happened a few years after your cousin Rapunzel was kidnapped, and before you were born," Agdar started.

"What happened?"

"There was another member of this family," Idun said. "Her name was Elsa."

"Elsa…?" Anna thought. "Huh, that's sure a coincidence."

"Who was she?" Anna asked.

"She…"

Agdar stopped as he was hesitant to finish that sentence. He felt Idun place her hand on his back and slowly rubbed it comfortably. From the corner of his eye, he saw the pleading look in his wife's own eyes. In other situations, she would speak up for him, but this was something he needed to do. Agdar knew this. He fought with the voice of doubt in his head.

"No. You can't hold it back anymore. Turn away and slam that door. Let it go."

"Papa?" Agdar heard Anna speak up. "Who was she?"

"...She was your older sister."


15 years ago…(February 16th, 1821)

Agdar had been walking down the hallway. It was the middle of the night and his pregnant wife was having her cravings for chocolate again. He offered to go get them so she could still rest.

As he walked, he passed by Elsa's bedroom door and decided to check on her. He peeked his head in her room to find the little girl sleeping peacefully in her bed. Cuddled in her arm was her stuffed puffin, Sir Jorgenbjorgen. The cute sight brought a smile on Agdar's face. Remembering his task, he closed the door, went back into the hallway and made his way.

Unaware that in the next few minutes his entire world would change forever.

After getting a small box of chocolates from the kitchen, Agdar made his way back. He had returned to the same hallway where Elsa's bedroom laid. As he approached heard some shuffling coming from her bedroom. For the moment he figures that Elsa had decided to have one of her 'late night play times' again.

That is until he heard the loud bang. The sound was loud enough to have echoed off the walls. That must've indicated how big the impact the bang was. There was a silence that quickly followed, which made Agdar more concerned. Fearing that Elsa might've hurt herself, he quickly rushed to her bedroom and opened her door. What he saw was something he had never anticipated. It was a horrifying scene.

The bed that Agdar saw Elsa sleeping on just moments ago was now empty. The window was wide open, with the wind from the outside blowing on the curtains. On the floor not too far from the bed was the stuffed puffin Elsa had been cuddling. The only thing that Agdar could do was scream out his daughter's name. So loud that the kingdom of Corona could hear it.


Agdar finished the story. Both he and Idun stared at Anna, waiting for some sort of reaction. Anna had...no words. In fact, she didn't how she should respond. Especially at a revelation such as this. Was this all real?

"I really had a sister…?" Anna asked.

"Yes," her father replied.

It was real. Anna had a sister. She had a sister! A sister that was taken just months before she was born. This revelation was indeed truly shocking. And for all these years her parents spoke nothing of her.

"Why didn't you two tell me? Why would you keep this from me?" Anna asked, but her parents did not answer. "Did you see me as some sort of a replacement for her? A spare?! Is that why you never told me to begin with?!"

"It was nothing like that!" Agdar said in defense.

"Still, didn't you two think this was something I should have known before? Did I not deserve to know this?"

"Of course you did," Idun said.

"Then why? Why didn't you tell me?!"

Neither of her parents gave an answer. All sorts of emotions were just running too high for Anna. Her parent's silence didn't help as well. This information was a lot to take in at once. Finally, Anna decided she couldn't sort them out in the study.

"I...I need some time alone..."

Anna didn't hear what her parents said as she quickly left the study and dashed into the hallway. Servants and guards that were walking gave concerned looks, but she ignored them. As she ran, the same questions kept repeating itself in her head.

"Mama. Papa...Why didn't you tell me?"


Probably not my best chapter, but I figure most of you guys could use one, especially after this site wasn't working the other day. I kinda feel bad for ending it off like this, but hey I can't help but be a little evil sometimes *evil laugh*.

So...Anna now knows about her lost sister (who by coincidence is named Elsa...hmm) and is understandably shocked and a little angry. I probably made her a bit OOC, but hey its an AU. Not everything's the same in AU's. Plus, she's 14 at this point so a mix of teenage emotions probably doesn't help. There'll hopefully be more insight on the next chapter.

Speaking of which, if you guys have been paying attention, you might've noticed I mentioned something as 'The Incident' several times through the fic. Well you'll find what's that about in the next chapter...(Hint: It may kinda explore a darker side of certain king that we know. That's all I'm saying).

And I hope you guys like that *notsosubtle* How To Train Your Dragon reference.

Quick hypothetical question: If I write a fic that solely stars Agdar & Idun (be it cannon, or AU) would you guys definitely read it, even if it doesn't have Anna & Elsa? Not saying I am writing something like that, but I'm curious.

Thanks for the favs, follows, and reviews. Happy Reading.