I got my first tumblr asks about this story! Which was nice, as I had no idea anyone reading this followed me on tumblr.

Now, we're deliving in to what happened to Iduna at last!

And as such, this chapter deals with some heavy topics (namely sexual assault, miscarriage). Nothing graphic, but they're there and discussed. I will always content warn for chapters, if you have particular triggers you're welcome to request they be warned for too.

-IEA-

Heart skittering in her chest - they'd only had her back a day! - Anna followed Elsa as they followed Gerda to where a handful of castle staff were milling about in the hallway.

"Excuse us, the Queen and the princess need to get through!"

Gerda helped them cut through the little crowd, who suddenly had other places to be when they realised Elsa was there. Anna watched anxiously as Gerda rapped her knuckles on the door, answered by a harried voice.

"Who is it?!"

"The Queen and her sister, to see their mother."

Anna heard their mother curse, and the rustling of fabric and hasty footsteps before the door opened just a crack, Alice assuring herself it was definitely them before she let them in. Elsa squeezed her hand as Anna shuffled in alongside her big sister, both concerned by the state of their mother. She was covered with a thick blanket, but her clammy face was white as a sheet and there was a bucket to her side. Only Alice and one of their nurses was in the room, which conerned Anna somewhat.

"Shouldn't there be a doctor in here?"

"There's no need" Iduna had to stop to cough "I'm fine!"

Unsurprisingly, her strained voice and unhealthy appearance did little to assauge her daughters concerns.

"What's wrong with her?"

Elsa demanded of the nurse, and while normally Anna really liked watching Elsa get all bossy... now wasn't the time. Still, Elsa was holding her hand, squeezing Anna gently to keep her calm.

"I..."

The nurse looked between Elsa and Iduna, seeming torn between obeying the Queen and obeying the former-Queen, who had probably already insisted she not burden the daughters with the mothers problem.

"Iduna love, they should know."

Anna watched her mother clench her mouth shut, lips pressed into a thin line as she shook her head.

"No."

Elsa frowned.

"I can order your nurse to tell me mother. Or would you rather skip that part and tell us yourself?"

Their mother could not answer, as she turned to throw up into the bucket clearly there for that purpose. Grimacing at the sudden, painful heaves, Anna turned to Elsa, who looked to the only two tending to Iduna. Alice sighed, then beckoned them over to the far end of the room while the nurse went to check on her patient.

"There's a lot your mother should be allowed to disclose in her own time, but you should know why she's going to be indisposed for a time, and possibly upset."

They nodded slowly, in sync, all glancing back to the bed before looking at each other again.

"Which is?"

"Your mother informed us she... I'll cut to the end. Your mother just lost a baby."

Elsa and Anna shared a stunned gasp, and it seemed enough to alert their mother to the conversation as she called out to them.

"Alice!"

"They needed to know!"

Anna was still stunned silent. Baby... but how? Their father had been dead for over three years, and Iduna had barely been alone since she got to the castle, but that would have been too soon anyway. She realised they still did not know what had gone on in the missing years, and it seemed it was going to be a very difficult conversation to have, if their mother even deigned to speak of it at all.

Glancing down, Anna panicked when she saw the blood on the floor, and realised what the moving fabric and heavy covers were supposed to hide.

Elsa's voice was soft, her hand leaving Anna's to go and reach for their mother, who initially flinched from the contact but eventually allowed the cooling touch to her clammy skin.

"Can we get you anything?"

There was surprise evident in Iduna's features, and Anna wondered what their mother had expected their reaction to be. Slowly, she shook her head.

"I just... need to be alone until this is over."

"If you're certain, then of course. But if you need me, send someone. I will be right here mother" Elsa grasped their mothers hand in hers, and it was alarming how similar the pallor of their skin was, when Elsa was naturally white as snow "and if there's anything else you need, it's yours."

Extraordinarily proud of Elsa for staying calm and bracing herself to not fall apart just yet, Anna approached and laid her hand over Elsa's, standing at her sisters side.

"Same here. If you need me, I'm here. And... when you're ready to talk to us, we'll listen, ok?"

Their mother turned away, trying to withdraw her hand but her daughters held tight.

"I... I can't. The shame..."

"Of what?"

"Of... allowing this."

Anna felt her face crinkle in confusion.

"Allowing what?"

She asked, but the question only made their mother clam up.

"Just go. Please? I... I'll let them tell you how I'm recovering."

Anna recognised all the signs she knew in Elsa, when pushing would be counterproductive. Their mother wasn't ready to talk, and she physically needed to be allowed to rest for a spell before they pressed her further. She nudged Elsa, who looked at her and thankfully understood Anna's silent message.

"Alright. Alice, as you seem to have taken the role anyway, I assign you personally to care for my mother. Nobody is to learn of what is said in this room, for obvious reasons. Mother, if your condition worsens, please allow them to send for a doctor. We didn't get you back just to lose you again."

They didn't move until there was a tight, clearly reticent nod.

"Alright."

Both squeezing Iduna's hand gently, they cast last, pained looks at her before they left the room. Thankfully, the hallway had cleared some, only one of the maids still waiting presumably to see if anything more was needed. Elsa pulled her to one side, and Anna didn't need to hear to know there was a small, thinly veiled threat to keep absolute silence over anything they learned.

"My mother is unwell, and we do not want news of such a thing spreading before we have even had the chance to announce her return. Do I make myself clear?"

"Y-yes Your Majesty! Of course!"

With a deep bow, the maid - Amelia, Anna thought, but couldn't be certain with her looking away - left the royal sisters to take their leave. Elsa didn't take Anna's hand again until they were back in the hallway of her bedroom, where they slipped behind the door and Elsa locked it tight, brushing the edges with snow to keep sounds trapped within. Only then did Anna melt into her sisters arms, emotionally wrought already.

"How... what... I'm so confused!"

Elsa slowly guided Anna on to the bed, shedding her dressing gown before she climbed up next to her.

"I think perhaps mother was... taken advantage of, and does not wish us to find out."

It took Anna's mind a moment to catch up, but when she did she felt white-hot anger course through her.

"Taken adv- oh! She had better tell us who by so you can go freeze them and smash them into tiny pieces!"

Her fists slammed down on the bed to go with her sentiment, except one of her fists landed on Elsa's leg instead of the bed, so she sort of accidentally punched Elsa in her anger.

"Oh! Sorry!"

Elsa waved her concerns immediately, using a little ice to cool the spot before she turned back to Anna.

"It's fine. And I agree, but we must be careful not to push mother."

"Yeah... I can't believe there was a baby... do you think she knew?"

"Perhaps. But that is for her to tell us when she's ready."

Anna nodded slowly, thankful Elsa allowed her a cuddle as anger seeped out to be replaced by fear, panic, deep concern for their mother.

"Should we have stayed?"

"No, at least not while the nurse tends to her. We will enquire in the morning. For now we should try to sleep."

Anna sighed.

"I don't think I can. I'm just so worried... and why didn't she say something?"

"Shame, Anna. Mother seems to blame herself... how would you feel in her place?"

Inwardly, Anna marvelled somewhat that Elsa had come so far as to be the steady one sometimes, a far cry from accidentally freezing the ballroom and running all the way to the North Mountain to live alone forever... not that Anna was sad about it.. She liked that Elsa was... healing from her isolation.

"Probably exactly the same. How were you so calm?"

"Oh, I wasn't. I'm still not. I'm just focusing on not bringing a chill down when mother needs to stay warm."

Anna squeezed her sister, and truly noticed the tension in her frame at last, fighting not to lose control which must have been very difficult given the news.

"She's not in great shape already though, what if she's too weak to handle it?"

Elsa pulled Anna closer, stroked her hair and shushed her softly.

"Mother was strong enough to survive and make it back to us, and she will have the best of care."

Elsa didn't promise that Iduna would definitely be alright though, and Anna knew it was because her sister was just as terrified, but trying to comfort her. Not sure she'd really drift off, Anna knew that if they couldn't be at their mothers side, there was nowhere else she'd rather be than held by Elsa.


The pain wasn't easing, but at least it had stopped getting worse. The sheet under her was changed again, and it didn't look as frightening as the one before. Arms weak and shaky, Iduna pushed herself into a seated position that left her gasping. Alice tutted, coming over and fussing with the pillows, wiping a cold cloth over her face.

"How are you feeling?"

"Awful."

There was little point trying to lie to Alice, who had found her collapsed on her bedroom floor to begin with - she'd only been coming to ask about Iduna's preference of fabric colour, apparently.

"Well, the sickness seems to have gone. I'll get you some water to drink."

A few sips were swilled and spat back out to get rid of the rancid taste in her mouth, but her throat felt a little better when she swallowed some water next.

"Thank you."

"You're going to have to try to eat again soon, you're already frightfully thin as it is. Would you prefer chicken or vegetable broth?"

"Vegetable. The chicken was overcooked earlier."

Alice let out a light chuckle, nodding.

"I'll pass that on."

A container filled with hot water and wrapped in cloth was given to Iduna to help ease her painful stomach, well aware she'd be 'recovering' for at least the next few days. It was an unfortunate thing, usually, but it happened.

Though Iduna confessed herself relieved, in many ways. She wasn't strong enough physically to carry a child, and given where the child would have come from, Iduna doubted she was strong enough emotionally either.

Alice had asked when Iduna was still vulnerable and terrified, and that was the only reason she had any idea how it had all come about, when Iduna clutched her stomach and babbled that she'd only done what she had to to get back to her daughters. The old woman had been intelligent enough to work out the rest, and thankfully still fond enough of Iduna to acquiesce to her pleas that nobody know, only agreeing to a nurse when Alice pointed out that she was no midwife, and so not really sure how to deal with Iduna's current issue.

And now the girls knew. Iduna pulsed with hot shame, feeling sick again and trying to keep the water down. She'd expected them to be horrified, ashamed of her, but they tried to comfort her instead. It was unsettling... Iduna knew she'd probably not have been quite so gentle if she discovered an out of wedlock pregnancy in either daughter. At least before she had all the details.

Though that seemed impossible, given their... bond.

"Alice, would you help me up?"

She hated to ask, but knew she'd crumple if she tried herself.

"What's the matter?"

Cheeks burning still, Iduna nodded toward the bathroom door.

"Just a minute, I'll get you something to stop you making a mess of the floor."

Feeling like a child, Iduna leant heavily on her 'assigned carer', relieved for the moments privacy when she insisted she could do that alone. Of course, she wasn't able to get back up when she was done, and so she meekly called for Alice again.

"I know it's tough, but you have nothing I haven't seen before. There's even been a maid or two I covered for... but never mind that. Back to bed with you, and after you rest we'll get you fed."

Exhausted both physically and emotionally, Iduna slept heavily, the first glimmers of dawn at the edge of the covered window. A cot had appeared in the night, and housed a sleeping Alice. Still groggy, Iduna reached blindly for her water, clumsily knocking it over and the sound roused her slumbering companion.

"Iduna! You're awake! Oh, let me get that."

She dabbed up the mess and poured a fresh cup of water out, holding it to Iduna's mouth and glaring until she swallowed, still managing to be stern despite having just woken up.

"How are you feeling?"

After fresh sheets and clothes were in place, Iduna managed to force down the broth, already missing the sweet berries she'd eaten for breakfast yesterday. Mealtimes brought memories of the other residents in the castle, and her needs won out against her shame.

"My daughters..."

"You want them here?"

Iduna nodded.

"I do."

"The Queen is usually awake by now herself. Just wait here a moment."

Though she'd managed to feed herself at least, Iduna doubted she was in any shape to escape the confines of her resting space. Alice came back with Elsa and Anna in tow, Anna clearly just roused by the way her hair stuck out from its hasty braid, rubbing her eyes and still in her nightdress while Elsa was fully dressed and her hair in its usual slightly-untamed style.

"Mother, are you alright?"

"No, but I missed you both."

Alice quietly excused herself, and Anna sleepily leant against Elsa's side, blinking blearily at Iduna.

"We were both really worried about you. How are you?"

She chose to ignore the 'both' for the moment - thinking about them sharing a bed was not something she wanted to do.

"Sore, and shamed mostly."

Anna shook her head, already reaching to take Iduna by the hand.

"Mother, you have nothing to be ashamed of. And nobody is going to find out. You just... needed your rest."

Elsa nodded alongside her sister, refilling her mothers cup with water from the jug when she saw it was empty.

"Anna's right."

Rather than search for seats, Elsa waved her hand and chairs formed themselves, with fluffy snow-like fabric cushions for comfort.

"Do you want to talk about what happened to you? Or did you just want to see us?"

Iduna sighed, hoping her broth-breakfast didn't come right back up as she slowly cast her mind back a little.

"I... the sea did not calm for quite some time, and so there were very few ships that sailed by. Naturally, I avoided all attempts to gain attention of the pirate ships. I did my best to survive upon the island, but of course I was somewhat spoiled by royal life after marrying your father. Truthfully, I am as amazed to have survived trying to survive as I am that I survived the ocean to begin with."

"So you were there for... three years?"

"It seems so. I did eventually manage to learn how to hunt small animals and worked out which of the plant life would make me unwell, which were hard-learned lessons."

Anna leant forward, and Iduna wished it were as simple as a bedtime story - she had the same transfixed look in her big teal eyes as she had as a little girl when hearing fairy tales.

"Well, hopefully you never need to kill your own dinner again."

"Indeed. Finally, there were ships more often, and I managed to gain the attentions of a passing vessel. The crew were not enamoured with allowing me aboard, as they consider women on ships bad luck. However, the captain... seemed to take a liking to me."

She shuddered, not aware she'd begun to dig her nails into her arms where he'd touched her until Anna gently pried away her fingers.

"So it was him who..."

"Yes. In return for my passage, I... had to take the journey in his personal cabin. I was lucky, in a way. He was a dreadful drunk, and most nights all I had to do was watch him sleep and hope nobody else came in. It was... nine days to the nearest land, and he was only awake for three of them. I escaped the moment there was dry land, though I had no idea where I was. I think that was about a month before I made it back here... I asked for directions to the Southern Isles, and there was a kindly elderly woman who was heading to visit her son in that funny little village by the Western Woods who took me in her carriage about half of the way."

"And you walked the rest?"

"I did."

"Why did you ask for the Southern Isles? Anyone would have had to direct you to Arendelle, for the port."

Iduna nodded.

"I agree, but I feared if I asked for Arendelle that somebody might recognise me. I didn't truly realise how dreadfully unlike myself I looked until I made it here and couldn't convince the staff."

Anna rocked back and forth a few times, processing.

"Do you know the name of the ship you were on?"

"No. Why?"

"Cus Elsa and me want to go after the guy who hurt you."

"Anna! A little tact."

Elsa chided her, and Anna had the good grace to look a little sheepish.

"Sorry."

"Even if I knew, and I truly do not, I would never dream of sending you two after them now would I?"

Anna crossed her arms and huffed.

"Damnit."

Though she still felt sick and ashamed, Iduna couldn't deny there was something a touch cathartic about voicing what had happened. The ice chairs squeaked against the ground and her shameful feelings surged, certain her daughters were going to leave her to suffer in silence.

Instead, they'd moved to either side of her bed, leaning in to embrace her between them.

"I stand by saying you didn't do anything wrong. I'm just sorry you had to go through all that."

Anna sighed and petted Iduna's hair, while Elsa agreed with her sister.

"Anna's right. It wasn't your fault. Now you should rest, and if you feel up to it, we can come and share lunch with you?"

Iduna nodded slowly.

"I would... I would like that."

They both hugged her again, and told her to get some rest. Feeling the weight of carrying her secret around lift a little at last, Iduna felt a wave of fatigue steal over her. Alice came in and caught her yawning, already heading over to fuss with her covers. Iduna asked for her water bottle to be refilled, and Alice obliged her.

"Sleep."

Warm and tired and full, Iduna fell asleep soon after.

-IEA-

Ooooft, that was tough to write. Poor Iduna. I did say there'd be angst, right?