Time had been kind to Arendelle, especially the inhabitants of the palace. Princess Anna had married Sir Kristoff in a beautiful spring ceremony a few months after her 20th birthday. A few months later and a royal heir was on the way.
Prince Matteus was born one winter morning after plenty of effort on his mother's part and a lot of nerves from the rest of the family. He was joined by Princess Lisbet three years later.
For Elsa, the palace was becoming much more homely, more so than it had been since she was a small child. With Freya installed as her guard they spent their time together without any questions and could sleep in the same bed each night after a little subterfuge and a concealed door.
Thiers was a gentle and subtle relationship; it had to be by its very nature. To the outside world Queen Elsa had a loyal and true protector who had not only risked herself and lost her previous livelihood to save the queen but had dedicated her life to guard her. In the palace when the extended staff was home and only the close few remained, they were as romantic as they could wish. Free to be a couple, especially after young Matteus had figured out their relationship to be as close as his parents.
The young prince loved having two aunties to play with. The only moment of worry had been Matteus declaring how much he liked Aunty Freya. When corrected by the town dignitary who had heard it the boy had retorted that he loved Lady Freya just like family, besides which, he was a prince and "Could be related to who he wanted too, thank you very much." He had left quite an impression and talk that "He'll make quite a king if he keeps that attitude and bearing" was spoken around the palace and amongst the townspeople, impressed that the child at four was so extrovert and capable of expressing himself.
Elsa and Freya were happy in their life as it was but sometimes, maybe when Matteus would run to his mother over a grazed knee or Lisbet started to gurgle "Paaaaa" and "Maaaa" they would both feel a little twinge inside. Just the slightest feeling that would have one seeking the other's hands and catching the slightest wetness in an eye. They would dismiss it though, not daring to discuss what they were both thinking.
It was Mattues' fifth birthday in ten minutes time. Despite the lateness and the winter weather the family was travelling through the foothills to the Troll Valley. Apparently the trolls had special ways to celebrate a birthday and Anna had agreed that they could start early for his fifth birthday. Lisbet was small enough that she would sleep to her own schedule and Anna had to admit that she had never been badly affected all the times she had been up at night playing. Olaf had elected to remain behind tonight, the little guy was wary of the steam vents now eternal winter was packed away.
Sven and Sven senior pulled the sledge through the soft, white, natural snow. Anna and Kristoff sat at the front, little Lisbet lolled upon her mother. In the back Elsa leaned against Freya and kept a close eye on Matteus, the little boy was keeping watch for wolves with his wooden sword at the ready.
"Then Mama hit a wolf with a lute!" He chattered excitedly, always up for a retelling of his parents adventure.
"Yes dear, but now I am here we'll have a wolf-popsicle before they get too near." Elsa said, smiling indulgently at the child.
"Yeah…" He took another look around at the thinning forest and moved back to sit on their laps. "I am five soon."
"Yes you are," Freya chuckled "and you have a big long day of parties and presents and being spoiled rotten!" She gave the blonde head a scrub.
Forest gave way to rocks and sparse greenery, bursts of steam filled the air. "Nearly there now." Kristoff warned, mostly for his son's benefit, the others had visited often enough to know. Kristoff halted the sled near to the clearing his family lived in and helped Anna, carrying Lisbet, off the sledge. Matteus had already jumped clear and was examining everything with eager interest.
"Come on Matty, Grammy Bulda and Pappy Rocky are waiting." Anna called the boy, he left the interesting crevice he had been examining and ran to his mother and father.
"Sven, Sven." Freya petted the reindeer and un-harnessed them, she still liked to perform some of her old tasks. Elsa tarried behind with her and grabbed her left hand when the animals were free. Freya felt the cool band of Elsa's ring touch her fingers and smiled.
"Remember how nervous you were by here?" Elsa said a hint of amusement in her voice.
"We were about to be trollfully wedded. I think I was allowed to be nervous." Freya chided. "Besides, you were too." She pulled Elsa closer, the shorter woman settling into the familiar curves of her partner as they dropped into their shared gait. "Even in a moss cape and grass crown you looked amazing but I don't think an ice glaze was part of the traditional outfit."
Some years before, having witnessed the ceremony Kristoff and Anna had been persuaded into after their public wedding; Anna had innocently suggested that Freya and Elsa could have one. The enthusiastic response from the trolls had convinced the pair and the lure of some sort of celebration of their relationship had been great. Nearly as great as their attack of nerves on the big day. There had been a localised July snowfall on the Queen's birthday but everyone had insisted it was beautiful.
"Still, the moss matched your eyes." Elsa mumbled, leaning against the familiar shoulder and yawning. It had been a long day and after this party they would only be able to grab a few hours' sleep. They were both a little hazy eyed when they reached the clearing and the tumult of trolls.
"Hello everyone." Anna called happily to her adopted family. Little Lisbet burbled merrily from her vantage point and showed off her new trick of waving.
"You're back!" a chorus of voices greeted them.
"And here is the birthday boy." Bulda rolled up and grabbed her grandson for a hug.
"Grammy!" The little boy returned the affection.
"Guh buh buh…" Lisbet waved from her perch on Anna.
"Oh baby girl! Come to Grammy." The troll reached up and the child was deposited in her arms, despite the stony features Lisbet snuggled into the hold. Free from grandmotherly inspection Matteus snuck away to play with his cousins, inspect their new crystals and generally be the leader in all kinds of trouble. Fully involved in their family, Kristoff and Anna sat to speak and catch-up with his adoptive parents.
"I don't know why, but I still feel slightly divorced from all this." Freya said, leading Elsa to their favoured perch in the clearing.
"It is a big family and ours has always been small." Elsa smiled, "Anna takes to it like a duck to water but I much prefer the quiet." She leaned back against Freya and watched the party unfold.
Around an hour after their arrival and the little prince was wearing his special crown and cape and rushing about at the head of a tiny troll horde, his wooden sword ready for action. Anna and Kristoff sat watching the children play, the small pile of gifts for their son stacked next to them. Lisbet toddled about between her parents and her aunties, Freya and Elsa sat a few steps away.
At the sixth such tumbling toddler touch of hands upon her knee, Elsa sighed gustily. "I want one." Lisbet looked at her aunt quizzically and burbled some conversational noises. Elsa traced the chubby little fingers on her knee. "You are perfectly lovely dearest but I am being a little bit selfish right now." She smiled and tapped the rosy button nose, eliciting a giggle from the girl.
"It will be a little hard." Freya said, watching Lisbet toddle off again to her parents. "You have no intention of marrying and I don't think it would do well for the Queen's Guard to be so indiscreet as to ensnare a man, not to mention there is no attraction there at all."
"I know, I can dream though." Elsa whispered a little sadness in her tone. Freya draped and arm over her in comfort.
"There is a way, you know." Grand Pabbie stepped closer. "I overheard, Elsa, I hope you do not mind." The elder troll shuffled over and sat in front of them.
"Hello Grand Pabbie." Elsa said respectfully, "It is not a problem that you heard, just don't let Anna know, she ends up feeling guilty about the strangest things."
"Of course my dear." Grand Pabbie smiled. "You wish for children though, certainly a little hard for two women."
"Too true." Freya said, a hint of wistfulness in her voice.
"Magic and potions can bridge the gap." Grand Pabbie said, flicking his fingers to create a slight glow. "Though one would have to carry the child."
Elsa had a hand on Freya instantly. "No... It couldn't happen. Thank you Grand Pabbie, but it would be too much."
"What do you mean?" Freya grumbled.
"It would be poor form enough for you to become pregnant, not to mention the difficulty of arranging matters so that you could be in appropriate company at the right timeframe." Elsa shook her head. "Then there will be the problem of you fulfilling your duty and remaining in the palace."
"We can persuade them." Freya began.
"No Freya. Grand Pabbie, with this magic would the child truly be ours?" Elsa asked the troll.
"Yes, just as young Matteus and Lisbet are Anna and Kristoff's." He caught the toddler in her return journey and received a happy noise in return, with practiced ease he cradled her close and the baby cooed.
"No, the risk this child would have my powers, the questions asked... Thank you Grand Pabbie, but we cannot accept. I could not have a child without a marriage to a man and if Freya were to have a child with the command of ice..."
"I understand." Freya mumbled, albeit sadly.
"A child is in your future though dear ladies." Grand Pabbie clasped their hands together. "I can see it though not brought by magical means." He left them together, carrying the now dozing Lisbet to her mother and father.
"We'll figure something out. I know we can." Elsa tried to be positive. "I worked out something for us."
"Don't worry about it love." Freya trailed her free hand through Elsa's hair and leaned closer. "Grand Pabbie said the future will bring a child. We have that too look out for."
"He does seem to know what he is talking about, most of the time." Elsa yawned, tired at the early hour of the morning. They sat in silence together until it was time to take the sled and return home. Their return journey was much the same but Matteus slept across their laps instead of leaping about the sled.
Everyone went to bed swiftly, to catch some hours before the official royal day began. Cuddled together Freya and Elsa dreamt of their future.
They did not realise it was approaching sooner than they thought.
Sequel!
Sorry about the time skip but those bits are other fics that will be coming along as I get them concrete. This story will be more episodic in nature rather than flowing chapters. I hope to cover many windows on events in this family's life.
Hope it is enjoyable.