Nature's Gift
Note: I dedicate this story to my nephew, who was born last month. I am an uncle.
It was a beautiful afternoon in the kingdom of Arendelle as Queen Iduna walked through the halls of her castle. She walked with her hands resting on her heavily swollen belly, which contained her and her husband's future child. Iduna was nine months pregnant with their first child, but she was supposed to deliver last week. When she first learned she was pregnant she and her husband Agnarr were so excited about having a child, but now that she was late she was beginning to worry. She did not want anything to happen to the baby growing inside her, but being late was not the only reason she was worried.
She and Agnarr both knew there was something different, something magical about their future child. Iduna's pregnancy was not like what women usually went through when they were expecting. Instead of having hot flashes Iduna would sometimes have cold flashes, she would have moments when she would suddenly feel cold and shiver. Also on rare occasions she would sometimes sneeze and a snowflake would appear out of thin air. She and her husband were unsure what to think about this and they were somewhat worried what this would mean for their child.
Iduna walked outside onto a balcony as she stared down at the kingdom and then turned to face the direction of her old home, the enchanted forest. Many days she thought back to the day when fighting broke out between the people of Arendelle and the Northuldra. She never knew what started the fighting but that was the day when she first met Agnarr. She came to Arendelle with him and he was crowned king that day; she could never return to her home and family so she stayed in Arendelle. She was afraid to tell people where she as from so she told everyone that she was an orphan who lost her family and could never go home, which wasn't really a lie.
She stared out at the horizon in thought, suddenly she winced and her sadness was replaced with love and joy. She looked down and began caressing her swollen belly as she felt her child move around inside. As much as she missed her old home she was happy with the new life she had now in Arendelle. She and Agnarr were close friends when they were young and as they grew older they fell in love, then he asked her to marry him and she happily said "yes". Nine months ago she learned she was pregnant and she had never been happier, though she was still afraid to tell anyone that she was really Northuldra.
She stared down at her belly and told her unborn child, "I will always love you, no matter what."
Suddenly she heard her husband's voice say, "Iduna…"
She turned around to see him standing in the hallway as he asked, "What are you doing out here?"
She smiled as she held her hand out and said, "I just came out to get some air."
He smiled and joined her as he stood next to her and stared out at the kingdom, then he looked down at her bloated stomach and noticed her rubbing it.
He fondly asked, "How is our future child."
Iduna lovingly glanced at him, then back at her belly as she said, "She's doing well."
Agnarr was surprised as he inquired, "She?"
Iduna smiled at him as she persisted, "Yes, we're having a daughter."
He grinned skeptically as he teasingly asked, "How do you know?"
She smiled smugly as she answered, "I don't. I just have a good feeling that it's a girl."
He remained skeptic but didn't argue as he said, "Alright, if you say so."
Iduna remained smug as she turned down and rubbed the front of her swollen stomach.
Agnarr smiled playfully as he inquired, "So, if you're right and it is a girl do you have any idea what to name her?"
Iduna then looked upward in deep thought as she replied, "I have been thinking about it, and I do feel I have a good idea for her name."
Agnarr curiously asked, "Oh? What is it?"
She looked back at him with a teasing smile as she said, "I can't tell you. That would spoil the surprise."
He smiled as he shook his head, disappointed but not surprised. He was in no hurry to hear any ideas for names, especially since he was still not convinced they were having a girl. He then moved his hand over hers and they both felt the baby moving inside her heavily swollen belly. Suddenly Iduna closed her eyes and winced as she began shivering as she embraced herself and tried to keep warm.
Agnarr showed concern as he asked, "Are you alright."
She nodded and cracked her eyes open as she replied, "I'm fine, I just feel cold is all."
He then wrapped his arms around her to try to warm her; he put his right arm around her shoulders and his left arm over her stomach.
She smiled comfortably and said, "Much better."
Suddenly she sneezed and a snowflake magically appeared in front of them and floated to the railing before melting.
They were both startled and Iduna nervously admitted, "Although I am still worried."
Agnarr tried to comfort her as he said, "I understand."
Iduna voiced her concerns and said, "Winter is only three days away. Who knows how that cold weather will affect her?"
Agnarr understood as he said, "I know."
Iduna wrapped her arms around her belly as she nervously said, "I just hope that she'll be alright."
Agnarr held her close and looked into her eyes as he said, "Iduna, listen, I understand your concern, and I have my own concerns as well, but I'm confident that everything will be alright. I'm sure our child will come into this world when it's ready and it will be healthy. I don't know what this magic means for us or our child but I know we'll get through it together."
She smiled lovingly at him and leaned forward, resting her head against his chest, touched by his sincerity. He smiled as he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, feeling the baby in her swollen belly kicking against his stomach.
He pushed her back a bit and said, "Come. The sun's going down. We should get back inside."
She agreed as they both walked back into the castle and closed the balcony door behind them.
The next morning
The sun had risen and Iduna was peacefully asleep in her bed, Agnarr had woken up and left and told the cooks to begin preparing her breakfast. Iduna was suddenly awoken by the familiar feeling of something moving around inside her. She smiled as she slowly opened her eyes and then looked down at her swollen stomach beneath the blanket.
She happily patted her large belly as she told her unborn baby, "Good morning."
She slowly got out of bed, changed into her clothes, and walked downstairs to their dining room table. When she arrived she found Agnarr sitting at the head of the table and next to him was a big breakfast in front of an empty chair.
Agnarr turned to her and smiled as he said, "Morning."
Iduna smiled fondly back at him as she walked to the empty chair and began to sit down; Agnarr stood up and offered to help her but she politely raised her hand declining his offer. She sat down in the chair and stared at the huge breakfast feast in front of her, not surprising since she was currently eating for two. First she ate some blue berry pancakes with syrup, then she ate a few eggs, then had some biscuits, and finally she ate some delicious French toast. When she finished her breakfast Agnarr kindly took her hand and helped her out of her chair, after which she smiled at him gratefully and then took a stroll through the castle.
Iduna calmly walked through the halls of the castle with her hands resting on her bump as she thought of what lied ahead. She was passing her and Agnarr's bedroom when suddenly she had another cold flash and began shivering. She got an idea and went into their bedroom, found her scarf, and wrapped it around her shoulders, then she sighed in comfort as she felt warmer. She reentered the hallway and suddenly an idea popped in her head and she smiled in delight as she walked further down the hall. She one door down on the other side of the hallway and entered through the door into the room that they decided would be the baby's nursery. She smiled lovingly as she entered the finished nursery and gazed around at the entire room with a warm feeling inside, despite the cold she felt.
She walked over to the window, where a childless crib stood with the sunlight shining on it and a mobile hanging above it. Iduna stood over the crib and peered down in it as she noticed a stuffed penguin doll next to the pillow, when they were working on the nursery she made that doll herself. Iduna smiled to herself as she picked up the doll, held it in her hand, and glanced over at the other toys they had put in the nursery. She noticed a toy that resembled a reindeer and Iduna was overcome with joy as it reminded her of her old home, and how much she loved reindeer. Suddenly she felt a gentle kick inside her belly and smiled as she caressed her baby bump and held the penguin doll against it.
Iduna sighed and softly said, "You are a very lucky child."
Suddenly Iduna sneezed and a snowflake appeared, she felt a little nervous but remained cautiously optimistic.
She patted the top of bump and added, "And you are a special child."
Later that night Iduna was lying in bed in her night gown, waiting for Agnarr to join her so they could both go to sleep. While she waited Iduna was knitting a blanket for the baby, who she could feel moving around inside her. Just then Agnarr entered wearing his sleep clothes and Iduna put her knitting needles away and pulled the blanket up for him. He smiled as he got into bed next to her and then blew out the candle on the nightstand next to him.
He laid his head against his pillow and lovingly said, "Goodnight Iduna."
She glanced at him and smiled as she said, "Goodnight Agnarr."
Agnarr soon drifted into slumber while Iduna was still wide awake as she stared at the ceiling in thought, feeling her child moving inside her. However, it was not the baby's movements that were keeping her awake but the anxiety of her still being overdue. Iduna was trying to be patient but the truth is she was anxious for her baby to be born, not because she felt uncomfortable but because she desperately wanted to meet her child. The doctors said that everything was alright and that she and the baby were both healthy she was still concerned, also they didn't know about the magic. Iduna and Agnarr were afraid of how others would react to the mysterious magical nature of Iduna's pregnancy, so they decided to keep it secret from everyone.
Iduna stared at the ceiling but then shivered as she felt another cold flash along with the baby moving more rapidly inside her womb. Iduna tightly wrapped herself in the bed sheets as she shivered with her eyes closed, but then opened them when she felt an arm underneath her back wrapping around her. She turned to see her husband awake smiling at her as he pulled her closer, and she smiled back at him, warming up and calming down. She felt that the baby also seemed to calm down as it moved slower inside her, and Iduna felt much safer now. Iduna cuddled up against Agnarr and closed her eyes as they both fell asleep, and Iduna rested her hand on her swollen belly, beneath the sheet.
The next day
It was early in the day when Iduna was sitting in a rocking chair reading a book to herself while sunlight from the window shined behind her. The book she was reading was written to help parents in raising children, most of it she already knew about but she wanted to be certain. She was both excited and nervous about being a mother; as much as she loved the child within her she was worried she would not be good at raising it. Not to mention she was also worried about the magic that her child seemed to possess, it made no difference to her but she was worried about what others might think of her child. Then she felt her baby kick a few times and she closed her book and put it down on a nightstand next to her rocking chair.
She began rocking in her chair as she hugged her bump and softly said, "You are my child and nothing can change that. And no matter what they say you will always be in my heart."
She felt her baby gently kick before stopping, which put a smile on Iduna's face, for it felt as though her child could understand her from inside her womb. Iduna then got out of her rocking chair, put the book back on the shelf, and then walked out into the hallway to search for her husband. Later in the evening, after dinner, Iduna had gone outside to the balcony as she stared at the night sky in thought. She watched the northern lights shine brightly in the sky, changing color as they danced beneath the stars.
Iduna patted her belly with a smile as she told her unborn child, "The sky is awake. I wish you could see it."
Watching these beautiful lights dance reminded her of the spirits of the enchanted forest that her people lived with. She remembered when the fire spirit would bounce around them on dark nights, making children laugh and cheering them up when they were frightened. She thought of when the earth giants would make great statues using huge stones that would amaze the Northuldra. She thought about the water spirit, the Nokk, and how it would help them by carrying them across the river and helping them catch fish. Lastly, she remembered the wind spirit and how she herself often had fun with it, she would sing and he would gently lift her in the air and make her fly. It made her so happy as she thought of the lullaby her mother used to sing for her when she was just a child. She then looked down, caressed her swollen belly, felt her baby moving inside, and began to sing the song.
Iduna: "Where the north meets the sea
There's a river full of memory
Sleep my darling safe and sound
For in this river all is found"
As Iduna sang the next verse she turned, took a few steps, and held onto the sides of her belly lovingly.
Iduna: "In her waters deep and true
Lie the answers and a path for you
Dive down deep into her sound
But not too far or you'll be drowned"
Iduna paused for a moment, then she rested her left arm on top of her bump and wrapped her right arm around the bottom of her bump. With her arms in this position she gently swayed her belly side to side while she sang the next verse.
Iduna: "Yes she will sing to those who hear
And in her song all magic flows
But can you brave what you must fear?
Can you face what the river knows?"
As she sang the final verse of the song she moved her right hand up and gently rubbed the front of her bump.
Iduna: "Where the north wind meets the sea
There's a mother full of memory
Come my darling homeward bound
When all is lost, then all is found"
She finished the song and rested her hands on her belly and smiled as she felt the baby inside suddenly stop moving, as if her lullaby had put it to sleep. Iduna's heart melted as she hugged her bump tenderly, making her happy and confident about being a mother. Suddenly she felt a breeze and the wind blew a few leaves toward her. Then the wind current circled around her body and then focused on her bump as the leaves twirled around her and brushed over her stomach.
Iduna recognized this and in shock and disbelief she said, "It couldn't be. Could it?"
The wind blew the bottom of her dress a little as she felt the gentle breeze against her body and her baby bump. For a moment she believed that it was the wind spirit she used to play with when she was young.
Suddenly she heard her husband's voice say, "Iduna?"
She back to the hall as she heard footsteps approaching, then she watched the leaves fly into the sky as the current left.
Just then Agnarr came outside and curiously asked, "Iduna, are you alright? I thought I heard you out here."
She turned to him and said, "Oh I'm alright. I was just singing for a moment."
Agnarr smiled as he politely said, "Well come, it's getting late and we should get some sleep."
She nodded in agreement and walked toward him as he put his arm around her and they both began walking through the hall. While they walked she glanced back out the window and saw the lights in the sky again and thought about what she just experienced. Then she tilted her head down and stared down at her belly carrying her unborn baby, who was still not moving. She also noticed that she was not feeling cold at all, ever since she finished her song. She thought about it, it was almost as if her baby was sleeping peacefully inside her womb, warm, cozy, and safe from the outside world. She also thought about the current of wind she thought was the wind spirit from the forbidden forest, and if she was right it seemed to really like her baby.
Iduna smiled to herself as she kept staring at her bump and said, "I am looking forward to meeting our baby."
Agnarr smiled tenderly as he agreed, "I know exactly how you feel."
They both changed into their sleep clothes and went to bed together after blowing out the candle. Agnarr slept with his arm around Iduna, who had her left hand on top of her bump over the covers and her head on his shoulder. The two of them slept peacefully in bed for hours when the clock suddenly hit midnight and chimed, marking the beginning of the winter solstice. Suddenly Iduna began to fidget slightly in her sleep, seemingly showing some kind of discomfort or pain. She began to groan in her sleep a bit, then a feeling inside her woke her up as her eyes shot open. She sat up in bed, lifted up the covers, and stared down at her bump, panting heavily.
She then nudged Agnarr as she said, "Agnarr, wake up! Wake up!"
He woke up and opened his eyes halfway, very tired, and asked, "Iduna what is it?"
She was afraid as she panted, "It's time! The baby's coming!"
His eyes shot open and all thought of sleep left his mind as he asked, "Are you sure?!"
Iduna kept panting as she exclaimed, "Yes! THE BABY IS COMING!"
Agnarr immediately got out of bed, patted her on the shoulder, and hastily said, "Alright, let's try and stay calm! You stay here and rest, I'll go tell the servants to get the physician!"
He quickly put on some clothes and hurried to the door as she said, "Please hurry back!"
He briefly stopped and glanced back at her in concern before hurrying down the hallway, not wasting any time. After he was gone Iduna sat alone on their bed, panting heavily as she held onto her bump in fear. Suddenly she felt cold and looked down at her belly, fearing for her child, then she quickly pulled the covers over her body and laid back down. She breathed heavily as she tried to keep warm while also holding the sides of her swollen belly in fear. She was very worried as she felt a contraction and looked down at her bump, containing her baby that was about to come out.
Approximately a half hour later Agnarr returned to the bedroom and said, "Alright, the physician is on his way right now."
She looked at him and nervously said, "Agnarr…"
He hurried to the bed and sat down next to her and sincerely asked, "Are you alright?"
She winced and then stared forward as she said, "I'm afraid."
He held her close for comfort and said, "I know, but you need to be strong. Everything will be alright. I'm right here with you."
She smiled, touched by her husband's kindness as she snuggled into his chest and continued breathing in and out. He continued to comfort her as they waited approximately another half hour before the physician finally arrived. When he walked in Agnarr stepped off the bed as the physician began instructed Iduna on what to do. Agnarr held her hand as he supported her and said kind things to help her relax; Iduna was still afraid but smiled at him. Soon the contractions became stronger and Iduna was in more discomfort as Agnarr held her back and abdomen, trying to help her. This continued for hours, but when the sun had finally risen the sound of a baby's cry filled the castle walls.
Iduna was exhausted while Agnarr was amazed at the sight before him as the physician held a little bundle of joy in his arms, wrapped in a warm blue blanket. He walked over and kindly handed the king his child; Agnarr held tightly as he stared down at his baby girl, Iduna was right. The baby opened her eyes as she looked up at her father, who smiled down at her and she smiled back at him made a little baby noise. Iduna smiled at the adorable sound she'd just heard and found the strength to hold her hands out toward Agnarr. He smiled politely as he slowly handed the baby to Iduna, who pulled her close and smiled lovingly at her.
The baby smiled at her mother and Iduna softly said, "She's beautiful."
Agnarr sat down beside them, placed his hand on Iduna's shoulder, and proudly said, "Yes, just like her mother."
She smiled lovingly at her husband before turning back to their daughter, who smiled at both of them. They took in everything about her, she had short platinum blonde hair and she greatly resembled Iduna, she even had the same eye color. The couple smiled happily at their daughter as she gently kicked her legs and moved her little arms around.
Iduna shed a proud tear as she lovingly said, "Welcome to the world… Elsa."
Agnarr turned to her as he inquired, "Elsa?"
Iduna did not take her eyes off their baby as she said, "That's what I was planning to name her."
Agnarr smiled and admitted, "I like it."
The baby glanced at both of them as she made happy little baby noises and Iduna said, "Looks like she likes it too."
Agnarr held his arm out and gently held the back of the baby's head and proudly said, "Well then, hello Elsa. We are your parents."
Elsa gave them a big gummy smile as she reached her arms out toward them, and they both pulled her closer into a warm embrace. Agnarr and Iduna both hugged their daughter and shut their eyes in pure happiness and Elsa happily snuggled between them.
Just then Kai walked in and politely said, "Your majesty."
Agnarr and Iduna glanced at him as he said, "Sorry to disturb you but the people are gathered in the courtyard."
Agnarr realized he was right and gently took Elsa as he said, "Oh right, it's time for the big announcement."
He cradled Elsa in his arms as he got out of bed and walked toward the door while Iduna watched, shedding a tear of joy. Agnarr made his way out to a balcony where he could see the courtyard below and all the people gathered in it.
He proudly walked out, cradled his daughter in his arms, and said, "People of Arendelle, I have an important announcement to make. Let it be known that on this day our kingdom now has an heir to the throne."
He proudly held out his daughter for everyone to see while he said, "I present my daughter, Princess Elsa of Arendelle."
Elsa smiled as she looked down at all the people, making happy baby sounds, and the crowd erupted in excitement as they cheered for her. Agnarr pulled her back and cradled her in his left arm and held up his hand as he waved down to the people with pride. While he did this Elsa happily looked at the horizon and then she let out a tiny hiccup and a snowflake appeared before her, with her being the only one who noticed it. The snowflake floated in the wind and she stared at it curiously as it was blown away, which made Elsa smile as she held her arms out toward it.
Author's note: Completing this story took longer than I thought, but I'm overall glad with how it turned out. I got this idea after I saw "Frozen 2", which I thought was great, and I liked how they talked about Agnarr and Iduna. If you like this story than I suggest you look at my other Frozen oneshot "Sisters Forever", it's very good and a lot like this one. This helps take my mind off all the trouble caused by the Coronavirus, I hope all this trouble blows over within the next two or three weeks.
Please review.