August 1844

Linnea Castle,

Arendelle

Her pregnancy progressed as any woman's pregnancy would; with the young monarch's most trusted of the household let in on the secret she carried, the Arendellian queen was able to, with her sister's help- and Anna quite enjoyed the secretive scheming her sister planned- arrange regular visits with the royal midwife, as well as set up plans for when her child would finally make its way into the world. Her most trusted of handmaids were let in on the secret of her pregnancy- Helena, and young Marta, who had joined the household not long after her mother's death in childbirth- and both girls routinely and excitedly played messengers between the young queen and those most trusted 'members' of her household that were not part of her household, but within the main city, and the King's courtiers when the monarch of the Isles arrived in Arendelle on diplomatic visits.

The young queen was kind; she need not force them to pledge their loyalty to her, for she already had it. Helena had been Elsa's handmaiden since the queen was a young girl of twelve, and Helena a child of eight; the girls had in essence, grown up together, and the young maid's loyalty had only grown over the years. So when Elsa had revealed her pregnancy to the girl, she had been overjoyed, swearing to do all she could to help her mistress, whenever she may need it.

It was Anna's soft knock that roused Elsa from her day dreaming one cloudy morning in early August, as she stood allowing Helena and Gerda to dress her, smiling softly at her sister as Anna entered, already dressed and hair pulled back in messy braids. "Morning, Annalei."

"Hans arrives today, Lise, are you excited?" She hopped onto the bed, watching as her sister's soft smile spoke volumes; absentmindedly, she reached down to caress her belly. The small swell- barely visible during their visit to the Isles- had since grown, becoming more and more prominent over the following three months. Elsa could feel movement within, and the first time Anna had been able to feel movement, she had nearly awoken the rest of the household, for she'd been unable to sleep and so had climbed into bed with her sister, sharing secrets and their darkest fears.

"No thank you." Anna glanced at her sister, brow furrowing in confusion at her response, but then she watched as Helena set the corset her sister was supposed to wear aside.

"Ah... Lise, you... you have to wear a corset-"

Blue eyes turned to meet her gaze as the older girl moved to take a seat at her vanity as Marta grabbed the brush and began working on her hair. "I don't have to to anything, Annalei, least of all wear such an uncomfortable garment as a corset." The soft whoosh of the brush through her hair filled the silence. "I'm the queen." She moved her hands down to caress her belly. "I carry the heir to two thrones inside me. I do not need to be told what to do- especially by a mere princess." Her sister's mouth dropped in surprise, and silence fell between the sisters as Marta finished doing her hair. Gerda and the girls quietly excused themselves, leaving the sisters alone- and once the door closed, Anna stood to go, but Elsa's voice stopped her.

"Annalei? I'm sorry." The princess turned back, but Elsa hadn't moved. "About what I said; I shouldn't have said it. I didn't mean it, I don't mean it. Can you forgive me?"

After a moment, the princess went to her sister, kneeling beside her. She watched as one hand absentmindedly stroked over the curve of her belly, and after a moment, reached out, taking her hand. "I know you didn't mean it, Lise. It is your shifting temperament, caused by my niece or nephew growing in your belly." Elsa smiled softly, squeezing her hand softly, but it didn't reach her eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Annalei? Do you still... see me, or... or the child growing within my belly?"

The princess's brow furrowed. "I don't understand, where did this come from?"

"Do you see me? Or do you just see me as a... a breeding mare."

And suddenly Anna understood not just the question, but her sister's shifting moods and the nervous worryings that had been happening more and more as her pregnancy had progressed. She grabbed her sister's hands, squeezing gently. "Oh, Lise, no! No, you're not simply a breeding mare! Don't you ever think that! No one sees you that way- I don't see you that way, and neither does Hans-"

"You don't know that-"

"Yes, I do. I know that because when he's with you, and when he looks at you, it's plain as day on his face that he's seeing you, his wife, his queen, the mother of his child."

Sadness tugged at her sister's gaze, and slowly, she pulled away from the princess. "I'm not his queen, Anna." Elsa shifted, moving to stand, and the younger girl stood, holding out her hands to help her up. "I will never be Queen of the Isles. Just as Hans will never be King of Arendelle, all because of that stupid law." She let Anna help her to her feet, and once she'd stood, she let what was really worrying her slip out. "I... I'm nervous about how they will react, Anna."

"Oh." Anna paused; she knew that Elsa had a council meeting before Hans' arrived- it was the one thing that marred an otherwise happy occasion. As she stood still holding her sister's hands, she let her gaze rove over her sister, stopping to rest on her belly. The dress she wore was light and airy- similar to the crisp August air- and did well to hide not only her growing belly, but the other changes happening within her body; from the loosening of her hips and swelling of her ankles to the growth of her breasts. Unless Elsa deliberately exposed her secret, no one but their most trusted would know. "It will be okay, Lise."

The princess whispered, taking her sister's hand as they left her sister's chambers and made their way down the hall towards the council room. Anna had taken to sitting in on meetings more, partially for something to do and partially to provide strength to her sister, especially after the wedding, and since her pregnancy had been discovered. "Hans is right, you hold the cards. You're carrying the heir of Arendelle inside you, the council cannot and will not touch you, nor will our people, for they love you."

Elsa turned back to her sister, feet from the door, both unaware they'd made their way to the meeting room during their conversation. "Come with me, Annalei. I need you more than ever now."

Gently, Anna reached up, caressing her sister's face. "Always, Lise."

With a kiss and one last reassuring squeeze of her hand, Anna opened the door, stepping through first before allowing her sister to step in; immediately, the council was on their feet. Anna's choice to go first had been a power play on the princess's part; she knew that her sister would have the upper hand if she stepped within the room last, for not one would dare cross the path of the queen without branding themselves a traitor to Arendelle and the crown. "Your Highness, Your Majesty."

Taking a deep breath, Elsa glanced at her sister and then turned to face her council, folding her hands before her; they rested just beneath the growing swell of her belly, catching the airy fabric of her skirt and holding it in place. "Good morning," She lifted her chin. "gentlemen."

The silence that fell as each member of Elsa's council, old and young alike, drank in the gentle swell raising from beneath the Queen's simple gown was defining. It was young Lord Bismarck who finally broke the silence. "Forgive my impertinence, Your Majesty, but- but you cannot possibly be-"

The barest hint of a smile tugged at Elsa's lips, and she glanced at her sister out of the corner of her eye, feeling the smoothness of her wedding band as it lay tucked within her bodice, nestled between her breasts on the chain around her neck. She quickly let the smile fade, before glancing at each member of her council in turn. "Actually, Lord Bismarck, you're quite correct." She dared to stroke a hand upwards, stopping at the crest of her belly. "I'm to bear the heir of Arendelle in three months time."