Katja had been born on the cusp of spring, with the snowdrops and crocuses. The little girl had been living in the palace for nearly a year now; it had been mere days after her birthday when the tragic fire had occurred.
Elsa and Freya had planned a day of fun for the girl, from breakfast in bed to her choice of games in the evening. Right now they were sneaking into her room. "Olaf, not so close…" Freya whispered to the little snowman with his trolley of breakfast treats pushing against her legs.
"Sorry…" Olaf said "I'm just so excited! I love parties and breakfast is great too…"
"Hush, we want to wake her nicely." Elsa scolded the pair. They both quieted and as Elsa sat on the edge of the bed. She displaced the covers a little and Katja stirred.
"Mama?" She mumbled, sitting up in bed.
"Good morning birthday girl." Elsa smiled and pulled Katja into a hug that Freya soon encircled with her arms.
"Hey cutie." Freya said to the little face peeking up at her through Elsa's arms.
"Hello Mam." Katja grinned and wiggled a hand out to touch Freya's arm. She had started to call Freya Mam when calling both of them Mama had caused confusion for everyone. Freya liked it, to the point but still affectionate.
"Warm hugs!" Olaf shouted, leaving the breakfast trolley and climbing up to join in.
"Hi Olaf." Katja gave the snowman a poke. "What's for breakfast?"
All her favourite breakfast and some little gifts of chocolates and candies from all the family were sat on the trolley. Katja beamed at the small pile of presents, "Thank you so much Mama, Mam."
"You'll have to thank Anna and Kristoff and the children too." Freya added.
"I will! This is the best birthday ever!" Katja dug in to her food and made sure that her parents were eating too. Her excitement was clear.
"We're very glad you like them Katja, but save some excitement for the rest of the day." Elsa said, smiling at just how happy the little girl looked. "There is some shopping and a little party and the bigger presents. Like how Anna and I had our birthdays, before." It was telling how far she had come that Elsa did not wince or her voice take on a bitter edge when she spoke about her younger years.
"More?" Katja sounded delighted and amazed at this prospect.
"Only once we eat breakfast." Elsa said, taking her plate up. "Then we'll meet up with the others and visit town." She smiled as Katja nodded along, syrup and crumbs sticking to her cheeks and a few brightly coloured wrappers flagging up she had treated herself to candies too.
The early spring sun wasn't warm enough for visiting town without a coat. While Kristoff happily donned his ice harvesting gear and Matteus managed to convince everyone he could wear his matching coat. Lisbet toddled alongside Anna in their magenta winter cloaks and hats. Katja had her blue coat, she had chosen it from a picture the tailor had shown her when they had arrived to fit the royal family for their winter clothes. Wearing it made her feel like a princess.
Though Matteus ran ahead at times, looking for Olaf who had hidden for a game, and Lisbet would wander between her mother and father or halt to look at something interesting, Katja walked neatly alongside Elsa, Freya close behind. "Remember Katja, I have to be Lady Freya the guard in public." She had reminded the girl when putting on her smart uniform hat and coat. Katja had nodded, she had been taught that when the uniform was on she was not to call Freya Mam.
There was a travelling market in Arendelle, the roadways were now clear enough of snow for the trading trains to make their way through and the small country nestled in a fjord was one of the early stops. Dry goods, exotic imports and crafts created in the cold winter months were all on display and for sale.
"Mama, Papa, this way!" Matteus called, pointing to a wagon at the far end covered in metal helmets and weapons of all kinds, the boy shot off.
"Matty! No real swords until you are ten!" Anna shouted, chasing after him with Kristoff toting Lisbet at the rear. Katja remained with Elsa and Freya was in attendance.
"Is there anything you would like to look for as a birthday gift?" Elsa asked.
"Really? But I already have so many gifts at the palace…" Katja looked conflicted, there were many stalls packed with all kinds of treats but she didn't want to be greedy or selfish.
"I think I am allowed to spoil you today sweetie." Elsa said, proud and pleased with the girl.
"Okay then." Katja smiled and held out a hand for Elsa to take. They walked hand in hand amongst the stalls and wagons. Freya kept close as was her task; it was situations like this that the forced separation was most painful.
After examining each of the stalls that were packed with toys or clothes Katja paused at a pretty wagon with baskets of dolls and other toys. There was a particular ragdoll in a basket with yellow yarn hair and blue button eyes. Elsa noticed the yearning gaze focused on the toy. "Hello, may we have that one please?" She indicated to the stall holder.
The middle-aged woman smiled down at the little girl enraptured by the doll as she picked it out of the basket. "Here you are lovely; she looks a little bit like you and your mama doesn't she?" The woman took the money and handed the doll down to Katja.
"Thank you ma'am." Katja said, too enchanted to notice the mistake. Elsa noticed, she blushed a little, the trader obviously didn't recognise her as the Queen and moments like this were too infrequent to pass-up. She thanked the stall holder and followed Katja who was skipping away to show her new doll to Lisbet and Anna.
"Are you ok?" Freya whispered to Elsa as they walked close to the child.
"Do we look alike?" Elsa replied quietly, she couldn't hold back the desire for it to be so from her tone.
"Pretty much, she hasn't quite got your cheekbones and chin but her eyes and hair are a match enough." Freya carefully tapped Elsa's elbow. "It is pretty cute actually."
Elsa smiled and doffed Freya on the arm, "If you aren't careful guard I'll get you to carry all the shopping home." She teased.
"What, even Anna's?"
"Especially Anna's!" Elsa laughed and nearly skipped off to catch up with Katja who had found the rest of her family. She was proudly showing the doll to Lisbet and Anna. Matteus had a new wooden sword; a little more a practice sword than a toy and Lisbet was waving a knitted reindeer for inspection by anyone interested.
"Well she is lovely." Anna said admiringly, she noticed Elsa's approach and smiled up at her sister. "Did you remember to thank Elsa?"
Katja paused. "I didn't…" She spun around to find Elsa.
"Yes, Katja?" Elsa halted and looked over to Anna again. Freya stopped admiring the wooden sword Matteus was demonstrating and turned to watch.
"Thank you Mama!" Katja smiled wide and hugged the doll close, "She's so beautiful!" Elsa smiled indulgently at the girl; neither of them had noticed the strange looks the watching townspeople shared. Freya and Anna had though.
"Do we need damage control?" Freya muttered to Anna, not wishing to spoil the moment, Katja had flung her free arm around Elsa and was having a 'Mama hug', they looked so joyful.
"So far no one is coming to cause a fuss." Anna whispered back, looking across the gathered people. "But I think they're both going to need someone when they realise what they said and where."
"Let them have the moment though." Freya and Anna spoke together. Slowly the crowd of dispersed from the royal family and it was time to return to palace for Katja's birthday lunch.
It was an immensely happy afternoon for the girl and for the whole family. Elsa delighted in playing with Katja all afternoon and within the palace walls Freya could join in. There were snowball fights and ice skating and racing. They built snowmen for Olaf to judge and made snow angels in the fine powder.
Katja loved her gifts, the cake and the treats served up for supper. After all the excitement and sugar both sets of parents had a hard time getting the children to settle until they one by one wilted to sleep. Freya carried Katja to bed, the little blonde head rested on her good shoulder. She mouthed a goodnight when Kristoff peeled off the group to drop Matteus to bed and Anna slipped into the adjacent room to tuck Lisbet in. Elsa and Freya put Katja to bed as usual, tucking her in and kissing her goodnight. "G'night Mama, Mam." She muttered, mostly asleep.
Not until Elsa and Freya were preparing to sleep did Elsa realise just what had happened in town that morning. "She called me Mama in the marketplace." Her voice was high with stress. Freya had long ago learned to cope with Elsa's sudden recollections before bed or during the night. The symptoms of her anxiety problems, the legacy of thirteen years of shame and fear.
"No one made a fuss in the town love, if there was going to be a problem the problem would have been there." Freya soothed, rubbing circles around the tense back that had been snuggled against her.
"You noticed?" Elsa's voice hitched.
"Of course I did, you lit up like the sunrise and gave her a real motherly hug and it was so cute I wanted to cry." Freya said gently, "You're her Mama, so of course she is going to call you Mama. You know you are her Mama so of course you will respond to her when she says it." She pulled Elsa closer and wrapped her arms about her. "Anna was bursting with pride you know, and I was more than a little jealous to tell the truth."
"Sorry," Elsa said quietly. "I'm being silly again."
"Don't be sorry and I am here to stop the silly before it gets too bad." Freya nuzzled the platinum hair nestled under her chin and kissed Elsa's head soothingly. "Now, let's go to sleep. Tomorrow is a new day."
"Yes." Elsa yawned. "I'm glad I've got you, you know."
"I'm glad I've got you dear heart." Freya said. She remained awake until Elsa was asleep, ready to halt any more panics and soothe any fears, eventually dropping off a little while after.
Business went on as usual the next day. Katja and Matteus had their tutor while Lisbet both parents to herself with Kristoff still in for the season. Elsa had a number of meetings with the town council, her aides and other concerns. As the town councillor meeting came to an end the natural lull was broken by one of the aldermen. "Your Majesty, there is a subject we wish to broach, one that may be a little delicate?"
Freya looked up in her chair and noticed Elsa clasp her hands together under the table, rubbing them over each other in an automatic response to anxiety. "Yes Alderman Housil? I am sure you can tell me of it."
"Well, Queen Elsa, it came to our attention that little Katja has taken to calling you mama?" He sounded like he was speaking very carefully at the least. Freya kept her eyes on Elsa.
"She has indeed." Elsa replied primly, though she kept her hands out of sight, frost was building across her fingertips. "I did not think to dissuade her; I hope you are not planning on such a thing?"
The man looked taken aback and turned to his fellows for support. It was Judge Tobias who stepped in next. "Of course not Queen Elsa, we just had some findings to report to you and a suggestion to make." He glanced to Freya and inclined his head, the guard nodded her thanks.
His voice was one Elsa trusted, a man who had kept a secret for her for long years now. "Very well Judge Tobias. What has been found out?"
"My lady, after the girl was taken into the care of the palace I set agents seeking any extended family of the child, legally speaking for inheritance and any vested interest they would have in caring for her." He supplied a sheaf of papers from his case and laid it on the table. "We found no one bar names on graves and death records. After this I spoke with former neighbours and the aldermen." From the stack he took out a document. "We decided that it would not go against any sensibilities or laws for you to adopt Katja."
"Adopt?" The wonder in Elsa's voice was clear and bright, reflected in her eyes and smile.
"I would advise she kept her name, to keep the records straight on the royal line. However adopting the girl is a little more binding than guardianship." Judge Tobias sounded pleased with himself. "When someone heard her call you Mama, we decided it better to bring up the possibility now."
"Freya?" Elsa looked at her partner, her question wasn't for attention, they both knew, but as a guard she could not answer. "Would you please fetch Katja from her lesson? Send my apologies to the tutor but this is quite important."
"Of course My Lady." Freya stood and bowed, let her reply speak for the order and the unuttered question.
Katja was working hard on her paper when the door opened. "Katja, Lady Freya is here to collect you." The tutor said Katja looked up to find her Mam, smiling to reassure her. She put down her paper and left the desk.
In the hallway she looked up at Freya. "Mama needs to see you Katja." She whispered. "Don't worry about a thing or the other people; you're not in trouble at all."
"Okay." She said. If Freya had referred to Elsa as Mama then it couldn't be a bad thing. They left the floor of the palace where she learned with Matty and the tutor. They took the stairs that lead to the working floor of the palace.
"Here we go." Freya whispered giving Katja's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. She opened the door to the council room. All the people in the room looked at them, the full town council. Katja shrank back but Elsa moved from her seat and gathered her close.
"Hi sweetie. Sorry about this but I have something really important to ask." Elsa spoke quietly, keeping Katja's eyes on her and away from all the intimidating adults.
"What is it Mama?" Katja tried to sound brave.
"We found some things out and Judge Tobias had a really good idea." Elsa said carefully. "He thought maybe I should adopt you." As soon as she spoke the words Katja smiled and smiled. "I would like to, if you don't mind?" Elsa knew she was nearly crying and Katja was getting tearful too.
"I would like that very much." She looked up at the judge who had stood near them, a document in his hand on the table.
"My lady, if you sign this it will be all official." He handed her an inked pen and Elsa stood to write her signature across it, one hand still holding onto Katja's.
"Well my lady and young lady. That is everything arranged; do have a good afternoon with your daughter." Judge Tobias folded the document into his case, his words were directed to Elsa and Katja as far as most in the room thought, no one but Freya noticed the significant expression her shared with her. "Queen Elsa, I bid you good day. Gentlemen." The man left, the rest of the council filing out behind him, each with a word goodbye and sharing congratulations to the pair now officially mother and daughter.
"Thank you." Elsa said to Katja when they were alone. Tears running down her face, she held the girl close.
"Mama." Katja smiled despite her own tears. "Mam?" Remembering Freya she looked up and held out a hand.
"My two best girls." Freya mumbled, too emotional to say more she just hugged them both.
If the trio spent a little more time together that day it wasn't commented upon, nor did the tutor make complaint about Katja being withdrawn from lessons. Anna was surprisingly calm when they told her, but the rib crushing hug was expected.
Katja was tucked into bed still smiling even as she drifted off under Elsa's caring eyes and lullabies. Elsa and Freya fell asleep still warm with the happiness they felt. There was no crashing realisations of recollections for Elsa that night.
They were a step closer to being a fully fledged family.
Some time skips are ahead, just some little age-ups here and there. More family feels!
Everything Lisbet does is all based on my friend's daughter at that age. She is three now and a little cutie who calls me aunty and loves to play and watch films when I come to visit. Also she adores Frozen too and was insisting on seeing it again whenever the trailer plays on the TV. Heh.