Hey guys! Wow, can't believe this my 30th story! Well, here's my second post-Frozen 2 story! Like with Demons in the Night, this one I had also planned for sometime after the first film, but again, it works well for after the sequel, too. I don't want to take up too much of your time, so for now, just read and enjoy, and please review! DISCLAIMER: I do not own Frozen, Frozen 2, or any of their characters, just the one OC I put in here. I'm not sure who the artwork belongs to. I did some digging, and I think it belongs to frozendailydose on Tumblr, but again, I'm not sure.
Ugh. Not again.
Anna took a deep breath as a wave of nausea passed through her. This could not happen right now. She was in the middle of a very important council meeting and she could not afford any distractions or interruptions. They were busy discussing plans for the upcoming Summer Solstice Festival. Anna had been looking forward to this for weeks. Not only was it her first big event since being crowned the new queen of Arendelle, it was also her biggest chance to prove that she did indeed have what it took to lead Arendelle, and she wasn't about to let a trivial thing like an upset stomach get in the way of that. After about a minute, the nausea passed, and she was able to put her full attention back on the meeting.
They resumed discussing the activities that were planned for the day. The morning would start with a short ceremony in the castle courtyard, with Anna welcoming and officially opening the festival. There would follow a presentation of the royal guard, led by General Mattias, all of whom would be decked out in brand new uniforms specially made for the event.
After the opening ceremony and guard presentation, booths would be set up in the marketplace with games for the children, along with food booths, which would be set up around midday and remain throughout the afternoon and into the evening. Sometime in the evening, the courtyard would be set up for an informal dance, after which there would be a brilliant fireworks display to round off the festival.
They were just discussing the security for the dance when Anna felt it again; another wave of nausea, more intense than the first one. She tried breathing through this one, but the feeling was too strong. However, she managed to wrap up the discussion, adjourn the meeting, and dismiss her councilmen before she lost full control of her faculties. Holding her hand up to her mouth, she ran to the nearest chamber room, where she promptly expelled the entire contents of her stomach.
When she was sure nothing more would be coming up, she took a great, heaving breath and sat back on her heels, breathing heavily. She was wondering how her council had not noticed something might be wrong with their new queen when there was a light knock on the door and she heard Kristoff's worried voice.
"Anna?" he said, opening the door. Seeing her on the floor breathing heavily, he rushed over to her and helped her stand up. "Are you all right?"
"I'm okay," said Anna, panting and leaning heavily on him. "How did you know where I was?"
"Lord Jørgensen," Kristoff answered. Lord Jørgensen was her minister of public relations. "He noticed that you weren't looking well and was the only one of your council to see where you ran off to after the meeting."
"Well, you will have to thank him for me," said Anna. She let go of Kristoff's arm but swayed dangerously and he caught her.
"Anna, are you sure you're okay?" Kristoff asked, still looking worried.
"Well, I have been feeling a little off the last week or so," Anna admitted, thinking she might as well be honest. "Eating ravenously at breakfast only to throw it up a couple of hours later, feeling unusually tired despite going to bed early, a sudden aversion to food smells…." She trailed off.
"Have you seen Dr. Olsen yet?" Kristoff asked. Dr. Olsen was the family physician, an older man who had been a friend of Anna and Elsa's father.
"Not yet," Anna answered. "I was hoping it was just a bug and that it would pass, but that doesn't explain my food smell thing."
"You should probably get checked out, just to be safe," Kristoff advised. "Make sure it's nothing serious."
"Kristoff, it's just a minor stomach upset. I doubt it's some dreadful disease." Anna laughed, trying to make light of the situation, but Kristoff wore a serious look. She sighed in resignation. "If it makes you feel better, I'll go see Dr. Olsen. But on one condition."
"What's that?" Kristoff asked, his face breaking into a smirk.
"Come with me," Anna said, standing on tiptoe and wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Anywhere," he said huskily, and they shared a brief kiss. He offered his arm, which she took, and together, they made their way to Dr. Olsen's office.
A few minutes later, they reached the door of Dr. Olsen's office. Anna knocked and they had to wait only a minute before the door opened and Dr. Olsen appeared. He was a tall, thin man with graying hair and storm gray eyes. He smiled when he saw who it was.
"Your Majesty," he said, bowing his head. "Your Highness." Even though Kristoff had automatically become prince consort upon marrying Anna, they had had to make it official in a coronation ceremony. "What can I do for you?"
"I haven't been feeling well lately, Dr. Olsen," Anna replied. "I was wondering if you could perform a quick examination?"
"Of course, Your Majesty, come in," said Dr. Olsen. He stepped aside to let Anna and Kristoff in, then closed the door behind them.
Dr. Olsen's office was simply furnished. A bed stood against one wall with a wardrobe in the corner near it and a desk stood against another wall. In one corner stood an examination table with a privacy screen and along another wall stood a washbasin and pitcher and a large cabinet filled with medicine and various medical supplies.
"Your Majesty, if you could just sit down over there, I will proceed with the examination," Dr. Olsen instructed, indicating the exam table in the corner.
Feeling a little nervous, Anna did as she was told, while Kristoff stood next to her. She was glad she had asked him to come with her. She really needed the support, as she had no idea what Dr. Olsen would tell her after his exam. She reached for Kristoff's hand and he took hers, squeezing it reassuringly.
"Now, Your Majesty, before we begin, please tell me everything that you're feeling," said Dr. Olsen, coming over to her while pulling on a pair of gloves. "Please be as detailed as you can. It will help me give you a more accurate diagnosis."
"Well," said Anna, looking at Kristoff, who nodded encouragingly. "I've been eating more than usual at breakfast lately, but then just a couple of hours later, I throw it all back up. I've been feeling unusually tired lately, and going to bed early doesn't seem to help. There are also certain foods I used to love but now can't stand the smell of."
"Hmm," said Dr. Olsen thoughtfully. "Are you experiencing any irregular bleeding?"
"No," Anna replied, surprised by the question. She hesitated, wondering if she should voice another of her concerns. She felt a little uncomfortable talking about something that was very personal for a woman, especially in the presence of two men, but one of them was a doctor, and he wouldn't be able to help her if she didn't speak up. "But I did notice one day that I was a couple of months late for my monthly bleeds. At the time, I thought it was just stress from my new position, but then I realized – I'm never late."
Dr. Olsen was silent for a moment, then he said, "I think I may know what is ailing you, Your Majesty, but I will still need to examine you to be sure. May I?"
"Of course," said Anna, and she lay down on the examination table. She squeezed Kristoff's hand again for reassurance.
Dr. Olsen proceeded to examine her, prodding and poking, mostly around her abdomen, before moving up to her chest. When he put pressure on one of her breasts, Anna winced, noticing for the first time how tender it felt there. Dr. Olsen frowned thoughtfully at Anna's reaction and put pressure on her other breast. As if on a reflex, Anna winced again. Dr. Olsen then straightened up, went over to the basin to remove his gloves and wash his hands, then came back over to them. Anna sat up expectantly.
"Well?" she said, when Dr. Olsen didn't say anything.
"After a thorough examination, Your Majesty, I have determined the cause of your symptoms and have come to the conclusion that there is nothing wrong with you," Dr. Olsen informed her.
"But—" said Anna, looking up at Kristoff and then back at Dr. Olsen. "What about my vomiting every morning? My fatigue? My smell aversion?"
"Your Majesty, those are just the common signs of an expecting mother," said Dr. Olsen, the corners of his mouth twitching.
"What?" said Anna in a hushed voice, sure she had misheard him.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty," said Dr. Olsen, smiling. "I believe you are with child."
Before Anna could do more than stare at Dr. Olsen, before she could even react, there was a loud thud. Kristoff had fallen to the floor in a dead faint. "Kristoff!"
When Kristoff woke a short time later, he was lying on a soft bed and Anna was sitting next to him. She looked relieved to see him awake.
"Thank goodness you're okay!" she said. "I was so worried that you hit your head or something so I had General Mattias and a couple of the other guards carry you in here and Dr. Olsen checked you over and said that you were fine and had no outward signs of injuries but you were out for so long and I didn't know what to do and I was so scared, Kristoff!" Her voice broke and she sounded on the verge of tears.
"What happened?" Kristoff groaned, sitting up and massaging his head.
"You fainted," Anna stated matter-of-factly. "Right after Dr. Olsen delivered the exciting news."
"What exciting news was that again?" Kristoff asked. He vaguely remembered something, but after his blackout, he wasn't quite sure what it was anymore.
"The news that we're going to be parents," said Anna, smiling.
"Wait, what?" said Kristoff, slightly confused.
"You're going to be a father, Kristoff," said Anna, now positively beaming. "I'm going to have a baby."
Kristoff stared at her. "A baby?" he repeated. "I'm going to be a father?"
"Kristoff, aren't you happy?" Anna asked, her face falling at his lack of reaction.
"Happy?" said Kristoff, his face breaking into a grin. "I'm the happiest man alive!" And he pulled her to him and gave her a passionate kiss, which she happily reciprocated. When they broke apart, he asked, "Are you absolutely sure?" He held her face in his hands.
"I wasn't until Dr. Olsen told me, but now I'm more sure than ever," Anna answered. "Before you collapsed, he said I show all the signs of an expecting mother. So, while you were out, I went to the library and found a medical book. It confirmed everything that Dr. Olsen told me in his office. It all makes sense now! My morning sickness, my fatigue, my smell aversion, it's all my body's response to the tiny life that's growing inside me." She grinned.
"How far along are you?" Kristoff asked.
"Well, while you were still out, Dr. Olsen made some calculations and determined that since my last monthly bleed was more than two months ago, I'm about ten weeks, give or take a day or two," Anna answered. "But he also said the only way to really know for sure is when I feel the baby start quickening, which, if his calculations are correct, won't be for at least another six weeks or so."
"Anna, you know we have the Summer Solstice Festival coming up soon," said Kristoff. "The stress of planning that is probably not good for you right now."
"Kristoff, it's only April, that's two months away," said Anna, brushing aside his concerns. "Besides, I've pretty much got everything planned out, anyway."
"Are you going to tell Elsa?" Kristoff asked.
"Of course, I'm going to tell Elsa," said Anna. "She's my big sister. I have to tell her she's going to be an aunt."
"How are you going to tell her?" Kristoff asked, sure he already knew the answer.
"Face to face, of course," said Anna, rolling her eyes. "This is too important to just send a message with Gale."
"Anna, that would require travelling for a long distance in mountainous terrain," Kristoff said. "Are you sure it's okay for you to be making such a journey?"
"Kristoff it's still really early," said Anna, placing a hand on her abdomen. "Besides, I already asked Dr. Olsen, and he assured me it would be perfectly safe to travel in my condition."
"Well, all right," Kristoff relented. "But it's still cold and snowy up there. We might have to wait several weeks for the spring thaw."
"Kristoff, no, this is too important to wait several weeks!" Anna insisted. "If we do wait, by then, I might be showing, and there will be no need to tell Elsa. She'll know just by looking at me!"
"Anna, it's too treacherous to travel right now," said Kristoff. "This time of year, that area is still prone to avalanches and I'm not willing to take that risk, especially now. I won't have just you to worry about, I'll be worrying about our unborn child, too. Anyway, you yourself just said the best way to tell is when you feel the baby move. Don't you want to wait to be absolutely sure before you tell Elsa?"
Anna was silent for a moment. As much as she hated the idea of waiting more than a month to tell her sister her happy news, she had to trust that Kristoff knew what he was talking about. And she had to admit that she did want to be absolutely sure before telling anyone, even Elsa.
"Fine," Anna said finally. "But the day something changes, whether it be the weather or the baby moving for the first time, we go see my sister. Agreed?"
Kristoff sighed. "Agreed."
"Good," said Anna, smiling. "That reminds me, we will have to make an official announcement at some point. As queen and prince consort, we have to let the kingdom know that there is a possible heir on the way. But we have to tell Elsa first. I don't want to make the announcement first and have some whispering slip away to the forest before I can tell her myself. In the meantime, I have some preparations to make."
To Anna, the next few weeks seemed interminable. Luckily, she had plenty to keep her occupied. There were the final plans for the Summer Solstice Festival, which included final fittings for her new gown. It was dark blue scattered with tiny seed pearls to mimic the night sky, with a splash of yellow-orange around the hem to represent the setting sun, which transitioned perfectly into the dark blue. The sweetheart bodice was a lightweight, soft velvet and the sleeves were long, sheer, and tapered to the wrist. The skirt was made up of layers of floaty, tiered, shirred fabric that rustled prettily when she moved. She couldn't wait to don the final product.
Anna also had much to prepare for the new baby. Since finding out the news from Dr. Olsen, her nesting instinct had kicked in almost immediately. The most important thing was to design and build a nursery. Telling only a few trustworthy servants, namely Kai, Gerda, and a few others who had served the royal family since her father had been king, she instructed them to clean and air out one of the many unused guest rooms in the family wing. Being so close to the royal family's private rooms, this room had been intended for close family visitors. But since the incident with Elsa's magic, it had been shut off with a host of other guest rooms, and since no family had been to visit during Elsa's brief three-year reign, it had been left completely untouched for the past seventeen years.
Gerda had been thrilled to learn that Anna was expecting. Having no children and therefore, no grandchildren, she missed hearing the pitter patter of little feet in the hallway, which hadn't been heard since Anna and Elsa were little. The room in question was a perfect location to Anna and Kristoff's room. It was close enough that they would be able to hear the baby, but far enough away that their child would have some independence while growing up.
When Anna wasn't being kept busy with her usual queenly duties, she was dealing with her daily bouts of morning sickness, which persisted well into her third month. She dutifully went to see Dr. Olsen for regular checkups, who assured her that everything was normal. During one particular checkup, Dr. Olsen was listening to her vitals with his stethoscope when he informed her, to her utter delight, that, though there was as of yet no detectable movement, he could definitely hear another heartbeat. She had immediately run off to tell Kristoff, who, upon hearing this latest news, swept her into his arms and kissed her fiercely.
As the days drew nearer to the Summer Solstice Festival, Anna's morning sickness subsided, and as she entered her fourth month, she started noticing other changes with her body. One morning while getting ready, she noticed that her breasts looked fuller and that her midsection was a bit thicker than normal. Despite her love for chocolate and other sweets (which she was now restricted from per Dr. Olsen's orders), she had always had a slim figure. This could mean only one thing: the baby was growing. She was excited by this latest development, but she tried not to get her hopes up too high, as she was still a couple of weeks from feeling her baby's first movements.
When Anna wasn't busy with plans for the Summer Solstice Festival or her regular royal duties, she spent the intervening time designing the nursery for the new baby. The room they were going to use had been cleaned and aired out and all the old furniture had been removed. The first big decision Anna had to make for the nursery was deciding on a color. As she wouldn't know the baby's gender until she gave birth, she had to pick a neutral color. She had it narrowed down to two colors, pale yellow and mint green. She thought the pale yellow would make the room look bright and cheerful, especially with the sun shining in, but she also thought that the mint green would be more calming and soothing. Eventually, she decided to just use both, and the servants got to work right away. When she saw the finished walls almost a week later, she was glad she had gone with two colors, as they complemented each other perfectly.
Another week went by and Anna came to the end of her fourth month. According to Dr. Olsen's calculations (again, if they were accurate), she was right around the time when she should be starting to feel the baby's first movements. At her most recent checkup, she had asked Dr. Olsen what it would feel like when her baby finally moved, and he had informed her it would be like a light fluttering, like having butterflies in her stomach. He also told her that it was more likely to happen when it was quiet and when she was in a relaxed position, either sitting or lying down. As she had been instructed to take frequent rest periods throughout the day, this wouldn't be much of a problem for her.
It was during one of these rest periods just past her four-month mark that Anna finally felt something. She was resting on her bed reading when she felt a light fluttering in her abdomen. At first, she thought it might be gas or, even worse, an upset stomach, so she waited to see if it would pass, and when it didn't, she realized what it must be. Her baby was moving! She was ecstatic.
When the movement subsided, she slid off the bed and rushed out of the room. She had to tell Kristoff. After asking a passing servant where he was, she raced to the study (the study which had been her father's and then Elsa's and which was now hers) and burst through the doors, where she found Kristoff sitting at the desk going over the day's paperwork.
"Kristoff!" she exclaimed, breathing heavily and leaning on the door for support.
Kristoff looked up and a worried expression came over his face. "Anna, are you okay?" he asked, standing up from the desk and hurrying over to her.
"I'm fine, Kristoff," Anna assured him. "It's the baby."
"What about the baby?" Kristoff asked, and then his expression turned panicky. "Anna, did something happen with the baby?"
"No, I mean, yes, something did happen, but it's absolutely wonderful!" Anna exclaimed. "Kristoff, I was just in our room resting and I felt it! Our baby!" She placed both hands on her abdomen.
Kristoff was stunned into silence. It was a moment before he could get his mouth to work again. "Are—are you sure?" he asked in a hushed voice.
"Positive," said Anna, her hands still resting on her abdomen. "It felt just like Dr. Olsen described, a light fluttering, like butterflies." She smiled widely.
"Wow," said Kristoff softly, completely in awe. "I can't believe it." He reached out to place a hand on Anna's abdomen, and she covered it with her own.
"You know what this means, don't you?" Anna asked quietly.
"What?" Kristoff asked.
"Now we have to go see Elsa," Anna answered.
Kristoff removed his hand and looked at her. "Anna, are you sure?" he asked. "Are you sure you're up for it?"
"Kristoff, it's not a very long journey, only about a day or so," Anna answered. "I'll be fine. Besides, you agreed that the day something changes, whether it was the weather or our baby moving, you would take me to see my sister."
"I don't know, Anna," Kristoff hedged.
"Kristoff, we've waited long enough," said Anna firmly. "I've waited long enough. I need to see my sister and tell her our happy news."
"All right," Kristoff conceded. "But do you think you can wait until at least tomorrow before we leave? We have to make preparations and gather supplies, anyway."
"Fine," Anna agreed. "But we leave first thing in the morning."
"Whatever you say, Your Majesty," said Kristoff, smiling and kissing her before she could protest.
Anna could barely sleep that night. Her body was tired from all the new changes she was going through due to the baby, but her mind just wouldn't shut down. She was so excited to tell Elsa about the baby and thoughts kept crossing her mind about how she was going to break the news. She knew Elsa would be just as excited as she was to learn about this new addition to their family and she couldn't wait to see the look on her big sister's face when she told her she was going to be an aunt.
The next day dawned bright and cheerful. Though the sun was shining in a cloudless blue sky, the air was still cool, especially with the occasional breeze coming in off the fjord. Anna and Kristoff woke extra early and after a quick breakfast and a few last-minute preparations, they were off. Despite Anna's vehement protests, Kristoff had insisted that she dress warmly in a light wool dress, wool stockings, boots, and a light wool cloak, and once they were seated in the wagon, he covered her legs with a fur blanket. He dared not take any chances of Anna catching cold while on their trip to the Enchanted Forest, especially now that she was carrying the possible heir to the throne.
Not wanting to draw attention to themselves, and wanting to keep their arrival somewhat of a surprise, they had opted for Kristoff's sturdy wagon with trusty Sven pulling instead of one of the royal carriages with two fancy horses that would need to rest every couple of hours. Sven could canter for longer and didn't need as many rests, so they would reach their destination quicker. Anna preferred this method, anyway, as she was anxious enough as it was to get to her sister's new home and she didn't want to devote more time than absolutely necessary getting there. Plus, she trusted Sven more than she trusted the royal steeds.
The trip took most of the day. They stopped only twice, once around midday to eat and then again later in the afternoon to let Sven feed and rest a bit before continuing on their way. Kristoff tried not to go too fast given the very special load he was carrying, but the pace he was going at would still get them to the forest before sundown. Around mid-afternoon, Anna had fallen asleep next to him, warm and snug under the fur blanket, her head resting against his shoulder.
The sun was barely beginning to set by the time they arrived at the edge of the forest. Their first glimpse was of the great stone monoliths representing the four spirits. But since Elsa had made her home in the forest, a fifth stone monolith had been added in the center, representing her as the fifth spirit.
"Anna, wake up," said Kristoff, shaking her gently.
"What is it, Kristoff?" she mumbled sleepily. She yawned but her eyes remained closed.
"We're here," Kristoff answered. "Look."
Anna peeled her eyes open and looked around blearily. When she saw the new monolith, however, her eyes opened wide and she came fully awake. She threw aside the blanket and leaped out of the wagon. She ran over to the monolith and stopped, looking up at it in awe. "Elsa," she said softly, brushing the stone gently with her fingers.
"Shall we continue?" Kristoff asked, coming up beside her.
"Yes!" said Anna excitedly. She ran back over to the wagon with Kristoff following and as soon as they were both seated, Kristoff flicked the reins and Sven pulled them onward into the forest.
As they moved further in, Anna was glad for her warmer clothes, as it was quite a bit cooler up here than down in Arendelle. There was frost on the trees and a dusting of snow on the ground. As cold as it was, Anna couldn't help admiring how beautiful the forest was like this.
They finally came to a stop just outside the Northuldra camp. Kristoff got out and unhitched Sven, who immediately ran over to a group of reindeer nearby. Anna quickly followed.
"Are you excited?" Kristoff asked her, grinning.
"Are you kidding?!" said Anna, grinning back and practically bouncing up and down. "I haven't seen my big sister for months, since before I fell with child. This will probably be the best day of my life!" She gave him a quick kiss and ran into the camp. The Northuldra people were naturally surprised at the sudden appearance of the queen of Arendelle in their midst, but they quickly got over it and gave her a warm welcome.
"Queen Anna, it's so good to see you," said a voice behind her. She turned to see a young woman with slanted eyes and a long dark braid.
"Honeymaren," said Anna, smiling and hugging the young woman. "It's good to see you, too."
"What brings you back to the forest?" Honeymaren asked once they had broken apart.
"I have some very exciting news for my sister," said Anna, trying hard to contain herself. "Is she here?"
"She went out riding with the water spirit to inspect our lands, but she should be back any moment," Honeymaren answered. "You can wait for her by the river. That's where she always departs from and returns."
"Thank you," said Anna, smiling again before running off to the river.
The area near the river was deserted, so Anna waited, pacing impatiently. She tried skipping a few stones to help pass the time, but she was too excited to see Elsa to concentrate, causing the stones to just plop into the water. Finally, after what seemed an hour, but what was really only a few minutes, Anna heard a whinnying and looked up to see Elsa riding toward her on the Nokk. When she was close enough to see and hear her, Anna waved her arms above her head and called, "Elsa!"
Elsa stopped at the edge of the water a few feet from Anna and dismounted the Nokk, which then disappeared into the water. Anna noticed that Bruni, the little fire spirit, was perched on Elsa's shoulder. She smiled. She liked that Elsa had a little companion to keep her company.
Elsa walked slowly and sedately toward Anna, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. When she was in front of Anna, she bowed her head and dipped into a low curtsy. "Your Majesty," she said.
"Milady," Anna answered, mimicking Elsa's formal tone, also curtsying. They both straightened and there was a moment while they just looked at each other and then they flung their arms around each other and hugged tightly.
"Oh, Elsa, I've missed you!" Anna cried, tears of happiness leaking from her eyes.
"I've missed you, too," said Elsa, breaking the hug and wiping the tears from Anna's cheeks. Bruni squeaked happily from Elsa's shoulder.
"Elsa, you're such a stinker, I've told you before, you don't have to curtsy to me, I'm your sister!" said Anna, laughing.
"Well, you know, old habits die hard," said Elsa, smiling widely. "Besides, you know I have always been a stickler for tradition."
"Boy, do I," said Anna, and she hugged her again.
"So, to what do I owe this pleasant surprise visit?" Elsa asked as they linked arms and started walking. Bruni scuttled excitedly back and forth across Elsa's shoulders.
"Can't the queen just want to spend time with her big sister?" said Anna, squeezing Elsa's hand inside their linked arms.
"Anna, I'm your sister, I know you better than anyone," said Elsa, coming to a stop and turning to face her. Bruni sensed some seriousness coming into the converstion and finally settled himself on her left shoulder. "I love when you come here to just spend time with me, but I can tell there's something more to this particular visit. This isn't one of your usual, to use your words, "just because" visits. I can sense there's something on your mind. The fact that even your trip here was a complete surprise says a lot." She smirked.
Anna smiled at her, her cheeks turning pink, whether from the cold or something else, Elsa didn't know.
"Anna, are you feeling all right?" Elsa asked, worry etched on her face. "You look flushed. You're not coming down with something, are you?"
"Well, I have come down with something, but don't worry, it's nothing serious," Anna assured her, as Elsa had started to go into her big sister panic mode. "It's actually something wonderful."
"What is it?" Elsa asked.
Anna smiled wider and said, "Elsa, you're going to be an aunt."
There was a beat of silence. "What did you just say?" Elsa asked, quite sure she had misheard.
"You're going to be an aunt, Elsa," Anna repeated, now placing a hand on her abdomen. "I'm going to have a baby."
There was a second's silence before Elsa smiled widely and pulled her in for a hug. "Anna, that's wonderful!" she said, happy tears now leaking from her eyes. "I'm so happy for you!"
"I'm happy for me, too," said Anna when they had broken apart.
"How far along are you?" Elsa asked as they continued their walk, Bruni squeaking happily again on her shoulder.
"About four months," Anna answered.
"Wait, four months?" said Elsa, stopping again to face her. "Anna, why have you waited so long to tell me?"
"Well, I wanted to tell you the day we found out, but Kristoff forced me to wait," said Anna, scowling at the memory. "He said it wasn't safe to travel just yet, and he didn't want to have to worry about the baby. Also, we weren't entirely sure yet that I was even expecting at all, even though I was showing all the outward signs. I asked Dr. Olsen and he said the best way to know for sure is when I feel the baby quickening. Well, now I do know for sure because I felt the baby move for the first time yesterday afternoon." She smiled widely.
"Where is Kristoff?" Elsa asked, looking around. "He is here, isn't he? I mean, you didn't come by yourself, did you?"
"No, no, he's here," said Anna. "I just don't know where. As soon as Honeymaren told me where you were, I ran off. He's probably with Ryder and his pack of reindeer. Honestly, I'm surprised he hasn't come looking for me by now. The last few weeks, he's been in full overprotective husband mode." She stuck her lower lip out in a pout.
"Well, this is a first for both of you," said Elsa, smiling. "It's natural for him to be acting this way."
"I know, it's just annoying, that's all," said Anna. "I mean, you should have seen the way he bundled me up before coming here. I'm grateful for it now, because it's colder up here, but it's June, for heaven's sake!"
"I'm sure he just didn't want to risk you catching a chill on the way up," said Elsa, taking Anna's arm again and steering her back toward the camp.
"Elsa, he had me dress in wool!" Anna said, breaking away from her sister and holding out her arms so she could see better. "I mean, granted, it's a light wool, but still!"
Elsa just laughed at her sister's indignation. "Oh, Anna, you always think the worst," she said, wrapping her in another hug. "But when that baby of yours is born healthy and perfect, just like I know he or she will be, you'll be grateful for everything Kristoff is doing for you."
"You better be right, Elsa," said Anna, her voice muffled against Elsa's shoulder.
"I know I'm right," said Elsa, pulling away and smiling. "Have I ever steered you wrong before?"
"Well…." Anna hedged, which earned her a playful slap from Elsa, and they made their way back to the camp.
Naturally, Anna chattered the whole way, telling Elsa all the plans she had for the new baby, the biggest plan being that of the nursery. She told her of her indecisiveness picking the color, how she had finally decided on two, of the cleaning out of all the old furniture and trying to decide what new furniture would need to go in there. There were a few pieces she knew she wanted and a couple of pieces that she wasn't quite sure of yet.
"Naturally, there will be a rocking chair, because I know I'll want to rock the baby to sleep every now and then," Anna was saying. "And a big wooden chest to hold all the toys our baby will be spoiled with. Obviously, there will have to be an area designated for changing and dressing the baby. Oh, and another chest for all the baby's clothes, which will then switch to a wardrobe as he or she gets older. But what I'm really indecisive on is what the baby will sleep in. I don't know if I want a crib or a bassinet or a cradle. I suppose a crib would be the most logical choice, and I can always put a cradle or bassinet in mine and Kristoff's room and that way, when the baby wakes up in the night for whatever reason, one of us is right there and we won't have to stumble sleepily down the hall. Oh, it's all just too much for me to take in!"
"Have you thought of any names yet?" Elsa asked out of polite interest.
"No, we've been too busy with final plans for the Summer Solstice Festival," Anna answered. "Which reminds me, you are still coming, aren't you?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," said Elsa, smiling.
"You don't know how much that will mean to me, Elsa, you being there," said Anna, smiling back. "Anyway, back to your question. We haven't even discussed names yet. Though if the baby's a girl, I would very much like to name her after you. I mean, if that's okay."
"Anna, I would be very touched and honored," said Elsa, smiling again.
"But I wouldn't use your name, exactly," Anna went on. "That would be way too obvious. But something that sounds like your name, like maybe Elise or Elisabetta or something. You know, something befitting the future ruler of Arendelle. And obviously, I know for a fact that if the baby's a boy, Kristoff will want him named after him in some form."
"Well, you still have a few months to decide, Anna," said Elsa. "That's plenty of time."
"Well, I just hope we don't get into a conflict over which name or names are better," said Anna, sighing.
"Oh, I don't think Kristoff would dare risk conflict with you, dear sister," said Elsa in a teasing tone.
"Actually, you would be surprised what we squabble over," Anna countered. She absentmindedly rested her hands on the slight swell of her abdomen. Elsa noticed this and smiled. "Sometimes, it's actually something important, like which dignitaries to invite to which event. But most times, it's the small, trivial matters that most married couples squabble over."
"I expect you will be making an official announcement upon your return?" Elsa asked.
"I expect you're right," Anna replied. "I just have to decide how to go about doing it. Obviously, it had to wait until we knew for sure, and then I wanted to tell you first. I didn't want to risk someone accidentally letting it slip before I had a chance to tell you myself. I also didn't trust Gale with such an important message." She smirked.
Just then, there was a gust of wind that blew around Anna and flipped her cloak up over her head. "Don't worry, Gale, I was just joking," she said, flipping her cloak back down. The wind spirit immediately calmed and gently caressed her face. "Yes, I've missed you, too."
By the time they made it back to the camp, the sun had fully set and the first stars were starting to twinkle in the night sky. Bruni had long since grown bored of their conversation and had fallen asleep on Elsa's shoulder. They managed to locate Kristoff and Sven who, sure enough, were with Ryder and his group of reindeer. Kristoff turned at the sound of their footsteps and smiled when he saw Elsa.
"Elsa," he said, walking towards her. "It's so good to see you."
"It's good to see you, as well, Kristoff," said Elsa, and they shared a friendly hug. "Anna just told me your happy news. Congratulations."
"Heh, thanks," said Kristoff, rubbing the back of his neck, a nervous habit of his. "You know, I never thought I'd be a father. In fact, I never even thought I'd fall in love with someone and get married. It was quite a shock."
"Yeah, you should have seen Kristoff's reaction when Dr. Olsen told us the news," said Anna, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Why? What happened?" Elsa asked, looking concerned.
"He fainted," said Anna.
"Fainted? Kristoff?" said Elsa in disbelief.
"Yeah, like I said, it was quite a shock," said Kristoff. "One minute, I was standing next to Anna, staring at Dr. Olsen, and then I blacked out and the next thing I knew, I was lying in bed next to Anna."
"It was a shock for us both, but in the best way possible," said Anna, smiling up at him.
"Well, I am very happy for you both," said Elsa, smiling and taking each of their hands. "You deserve this happiness after everything we've been through. I can't wait to meet your little one."
"You know, that just gave me an idea," said Anna, looking up at Kristoff and then back at Elsa. "I would love it if you could be there for the birth."
Elsa was speechless for a moment. When she found her voice, she said, "Anna, I would love that, too, but babies are very unpredictable. Your little prince or princess could come anytime within your last month."
"I've already worked that out," said Anna. "During my most recent checkup, Dr. Olsen informed me that I would need to start my lying-in period in my last month or so. As soon as that starts, I will send you a message. That should be plenty of time for you to answer and come be with me. Besides, I will need someone to keep me entertained until the baby comes." She smirked.
"Anna, it's not like you'll be alone, Kristoff and Olaf will be there with you," said Elsa.
"And I love them both," said Anna. "But, you know, babies are more of a woman's thing, and, well, since Mama can't be with me…." Her voice trailed off.
Elsa understood now. They may have lost their mother, but they still had each other, and Anna felt that since their mother was no longer with them, that she was the next best thing.
"It would make me feel more secure knowing my big sister was going to be there," Anna was saying now.
"Oh, Anna," said Elsa, and she hugged her. "Of course, I'll be there. But on one condition."
"I should have known that was coming," Anna teased.
"Anna, I'm trying to be serious here," said Elsa, trying not to smile. "You do everything Dr. Olsen tells you. That includes watching what you eat. Maintaining a healthy diet is crucial to a healthy baby. That means no sweets and especially no chocolate."
"I know, Dr. Olsen already told me of my restricted diet," said Anna, pouting again.
"And have you been following it?" Elsa asked, her eyes narrowed.
"I have, but it's been really hard," said Anna. "I almost wish I hadn't told Kristoff about it. He had the cook hide all the sweets from me in case I would ever sneak down to the kitchens for a snack. He even confiscated my secret stash from my desk!"
"Well, you know, it's not really a "secret stash" if you tell other people about it," said Elsa, smirking.
"But that's the thing, I didn't!" Anna insisted.
"How did Kristoff know where to find it, then?" Elsa asked.
"I saw her sneaking into it one day," said Kristoff, also smirking. "There's a secret compartment in one of the drawers that's hard to find unless you know it's there. You just push down on it and it springs open like a little trap door."
"Kristoff!" said Anna, punching him on the arm. "You traitor!"
"Well, you weren't exactly being sneaky about it," said Kristoff. "You didn't even bother to look around to make sure no one was watching, you just went straight for it."
"That doesn't change the fact that you confiscated it without telling me," said Anna.
"Anna, you think I don't know you well enough by now?" Kristoff asked. "If I had told you, you would have fought me tooth and nail for it."
"But—" Anna started, but Elsa interrupted her.
"Anna, Kristoff just wants you to stay healthy, for the baby's sake," she said. "He means well."
"I know," Anna huffed. "But I'm still upset that he went behind my back." She scowled at Kristoff.
Silence fell between them. Then Kristoff said, "It's getting late. We should be heading back."
"But Kristoff, I need more time with my big sister," said Anna, moving to stand closer to Elsa. "I hardly get to see her anymore, and now with the baby coming, I'll see her even less. Besides, I already told Kai and Gerda and my advisors not to expect us back for at least a couple of days, to give us plenty of time for visiting." She gave him a satisfied smirk.
"Well, it looks like I stand corrected," said Kristoff, amused. "You really are sneaky."
"I suppose she takes after me," said Elsa, smiling.
"Is there a place we can stay for the night?" Kristoff asked, in a resigned voice.
"Yes, you can sleep in my tent," Elsa answered, and she started leading them toward it.
"But Elsa, where will you sleep?" Anna asked. "There won't be room for three of us and it's too cold to sleep outside."
"Anna, you forget that I'm the Snow Queen," said Elsa, smirking. "I don't get cold. Besides, the cold never bothered me, anyway."
"But—" Anna started.
"Anna, trust me, I'll be fine," Elsa reassured her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It will be a different experience sleeping out under the stars. Besides, with a new little royal on the way, you need somewhere warm and comfortable."
"Are you sure?" Anna asked.
"Anna, you're my baby sister," said Elsa, taking her arm and steering her towards her tent, which was a little apart from the others. "Of course, I'm sure."
"Okay, if you insist," said Anna, smiling.
"I do," said Elsa, smiling back. "Do you have enough provisions for your trip home?"
"Are you kidding?" said Anna, almost laughing. "Kristoff packed enough to last us a whole week!"
"I'm just well-prepared," said Kristoff, shrugging. "Who knows what could happen?"
"Well, I think we're safe for tonight," said Anna. "Besides, Elsa and the other spirits will protect us if anything does happen."
"I suppose you have a point there," Kristoff agreed.
"Good, then it's settled," said Elsa. "Go on inside and make yourselves at home. My bedding is a little sparse, so I'll go see about some extra blankets."
"Don't worry about it," said Kristoff. "We have more than enough." Before Elsa could say anything, he went back to the wagon and grabbed a few more blankets and laid them out inside the tent. "Like I said, well-prepared."
"Well, I'll let you two get settled, then," said Elsa.
"Thank you, Elsa," said Anna, hugging her.
"You're welcome," said Elsa, hugging back. "Rest well."
"I will," said Anna, breaking the hug. "Good night. I love you."
"I love you, too," said Elsa, smiling. "Good night."
They parted ways, Elsa moving off a little distance to talk to some of the Northuldra people and Anna joining Kristoff in the tent. Upon entering, she noticed how warm and cozy it looked, with thick fur blankets covering the ground. She snuggled in next to Kristoff, resting her head on his shoulder. He gently kissed the top of her head.
"So, how did today turn out?" he asked, though he was sure he already knew the answer.
"It was the best day ever," said Anna, snuggling even closer to him. "Thank you for bringing me here. I love you."
"I love you, too," Kristoff answered, kissing her. "And you're welcome." And they soon fell asleep in each other's arms.
Well, this turned out to be way longer than I expected. I just kept getting a tidal wave of inspiration.
I didn't like having to make Anna wait more than a month to tell Elsa the news, but back in the time period that the Frozen universe is set in (roughly mid-1800s), there were no such things as ultrasounds or sonograms, so the best way for women to tell for sure whether or not they were with child was when they felt their baby move for the first time. This was called "quickening".
I tried to include at least a couple of the other spirits. I managed to easily fit the Nokk in, along with Gale. Bruni, the little fire spirit, was a little tricky, but I managed to squeeze him in a couple of places. As for the earth giants, well, I didn't know where to add them in, but they rarely come down to the Northuldra camp, anyway.
Oh, I added a fun little line from the first film. Did you catch it? ;)
I hope the ending doesn't sound rushed. This one seemed to go on forever and I really wanted to finish it.
Thank you for reading! Another story coming soon! :)