Thank you for the warm welcome everyone!
The sun was nice, and warm.
Today's weather had not been scorching hot that it'd torment people for staying out for far too long, there was occasional breeze that blew past and it was refreshing enough to made her sigh, yet the sun had thankfully kept the rain away to allow her to be here, sitting outside in the gardens, without worrying that she might be drenched by a sudden summer rain.
Having some sun would be good for her and the baby, Gerda had said. As long as it was not midday where the rays were rather harmful instead of being beneficial.
So here she was, right after breakfast, before she had to face her Council for her first meeting of the day. Ever since she had recovered her magic back she had not been as miserable—not that she wished to be for even a moment longer, and getting back to work was a way for her to move on from what had happened. There were difficulties, but everyone had been accommodating enough to help her.
Flutters—tiny movements that were hard to notice should she was out and about—invited her to run a hand down her belly, over the bump that had grew for her child once again, and she couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corners of her lips. Another baby for her to love and care, a sibling for Wilhelm to play and share with just like how she and Anna had, would be held in her arms in about five more months.
Five more months.
She had five more months to unravel whatever it was that she had tangled herself in before her baby would be born and she would have another life to protect and shield away from—
"Enjoying the sun, Your Majesty?"
Her head tilted up and to the side, following the source of the voice, to see Hans' mother making her way toward the bench she had been sitting on. "Queen Adela."
"May I?" the older woman asked, gesturing at the empty spot by her side, and Elsa had nodded before she had sat herself down. "I must say, Arendelle's weather is far more pleasant than that of the Southern Isles'. No wonder Hans enjoyed himself so much here."
The Southern Isles were made of islands, naturally summer would have been hotter there than it would be in Arendelle, even Hans himself had mentioned this before to her. "And how about you, Queen Adela? Have you been enjoying your stay here?" They didn't meet eye to eye, both instead had watched what was right before them, across the gardens where the servants come and go as they worked. "Forgive me for not giving you and your sons a proper welcome."
"Due to the circumstances I can understand why you couldn't, Queen Elsa." It was a wonder for her though, on why Hans' mother along with her sons had not yet depart and head back to their own kingdom, surely the King would have wanted his Queen back at his side. "And yes, I have a pleasant time here as well. You have a beautiful kingdom, it has been what, three years since I have been here last?"
Elsa nodded in agreement. This would be her mother in-law's second time in visiting Arendelle during her reign, the first time had been to attend Wilhelm's baptism just a few days after his birth. "Queen Adela, I have never thanked you in your assistance in finding me."
"Oh, do not worry about it," the older woman waved off. "You are my son's wife, you are family, and what use of the union between two kingdoms if not to help one another, yes?"
Right.
Both fell into a silence. It was neither comfortable or overly awkward, just… Elsa wasn't sure what she should say.
"If you wish to ask questions," the Southern Isles' Queen spoke up, as if she was able to read the younger Queen's mind. "Then do ask. I am sure you have plenty."
"The Duchess," she began, even when merely mentioning her had made her shift in her seat as she faced Queen Adela. "What is her connection with the Southern Isles?" she explained what she had known from Hans, laying a base for the older Queen to explain further.
The auburn-haired Queen had sighed then, turning to look at her daughter in-law. "The Westergaard had not always been in control of the Southern Isles. We are relatively new in ruling it, compared to other royal families such as yours."
Unlike Arendelle's family tree that had branched for generations in ruling over the land, the Westergaard had only come in power under King Harald's—Hans' father—rule. This had been one of the reasons why he had been so hell-bend in marrying off his sons, to make connections and relations with the other kingdoms.
"During the early years of his rule, Harald had faced many oppositions." Queen Adela explained, "From one of those oppositions, Atalie had fallen into our care."
It had explained why, although she was no part of the Westergaard royal family, the King was able to marry Atalie off to the Duke of Weselton. Though it had not explained all that she wished to know.
"Queen Adela, did you know how she—"
"Mama!"
Both queens' heads turned at the call, just in time to see the young prince came running from across the gardens, wide smile and bright blue eyes adorned his features. Wilhelm had practically slammed himself against his mother's legs in a hug, chin resting on her knees as he looked up at her with endless giggles.
His head turned, smile just as wide, toward the visiting Queen. "Hi Grandmamma."
"Hello Wilhelm," Queen Adela's demeanor had lightened the moment the boy had made himself known. "What have you been up to?"
The question made the young prince perked up as he turned his attention back to his mother, jumping excitedly. "Papa takes me to the docks!"
"Did he now?" Elsa had bend forward to lift her son up, sitting him down on her lap. Hans must have taken him for his round of morning check-up with the fishermen. "And did you enjoy the docks?"
"Mm-hm!" his excited nods truly reminded her of her own sister. "Papa said I can go sailing with him! Can I Mama, please?"
"When you're older, darling." She'll consider it then. Her son is the future King of Arendelle, and he has a former Admiral as a father, the prospect of Wilhelm having the need to sail is high. But she will think about that later, much, much, later. "For now, stay with Mama right here in the castle, alright?"
Out of the corner of her eyes she had noticed the way Queen Adela's brow rose, but she had put no mind to it as she brushed a strand of flyaway hair out of Wilhelm's face, kissing him on the temples before the auburn-haired boy had wiggled out of her arms to jump back down, apparently finding the flowers in the gardens to be more interesting at the moment.
"You truly raised him so differently, Queen Elsa."
The comment had come out of the blue, causing the platinum blonde-haired Queen's brows to furrow in confusion as she turned toward her mother in-law. "Forgive me but I don't think I follow, Queen Adela."
"The way that boy had run up to you so easily, the way he so freely express himself, I don't think I've seen many royal children acting like so." The older royal shrugged, gesturing toward Wilhelm—crouching by a bush as he enjoyed nature up close—with a wave of her hand. "I've heard you have even nursed him yourself instead of having a wet nurse to do so. I cannot help but be intrigued. Are you planning on doing the same with the next one?"
"Yes. Yes, I did." Even the mountains of paperwork would not be able to steal her away from the duty and responsibility she has as a mother. Her children will grow up with love and care from both she and Hans, they had sworn it. "And yes, this baby I am carrying right now will also receive the same treatment as Wilhelm."
A smile was the last thing that she had expected to come from Queen Adela. But that was exactly what the older woman had done as she took her hand in hers, patting it gently, and for once the image of that stoic hardened Queen of the Southern Isles had melted, even for a moment.
Because the next thing she knew, Queen Adela had rose from her seat, her usual look returning on her face, as she nodded toward the younger Queen wordlessly before she had left.
Wilhelm returned; dirt covered fingers curling around the fabric of her skirt as he tugged against it to gain her attention. "Mama, I want to go inside."
"Of course, Wilhelm, let's go inside." Taking her son's hands, she had wiped the remaining dirt off with her skirt—it was already soiled anyway—before she got up and took hold of his now somewhat clean hand.
There were times she still wished she could lift her son up and just carry him anywhere, just like when he was younger and smaller, but Gerda had warned her to be careful and not to stress her body so much, besides it seemed that the boy enjoyed walking and running around by himself more now. It was almost saddening really, to have her baby growing up quicker than she had imagined, but at the same time there was a certain pride that blossomed in her heart.
"Mama," another round of tugging from her son made her looked down at him, finding bright blue eyes staring back at her filled with hope. "Can we have chocolate pudding for dessert?"
"Didn't we just have breakfast hours ago?" she laughed. Because no matter how much he had grown, it seemed that Wilhelm will always stay as her baby no matter what. "But yes darling, we can have chocolate pudding for dessert later. I will tell the cooks to prepare it, how about that?"
"And ice cream too?"
"Wilhelm, how do you even intend on eating all that on top of your lunch?" when met with another hopeful—almost pleading—eyes, Elsa had sighed and shook her head. "No, I will not have you skipping lunch for desserts."
"But Mama…"
"You can have one of the two today and then the other one tomorrow." She offered as Wilhelm's lips pursed into a pout. "That's how I arrange Auntie Anna's dessert too." She may have a sweet tooth, but no one could beat Anna's, and lately her son had been mirroring his beloved aunt regarding sweets.
"Fine."
The arm that wrapped around her made her hum.
She had retired early to bed after dinner—which fortunately was not attended by the Southern Isles' royal family—claiming that she was tired and would like to lie down, and it was not untrue.
Pregnancy differed for each baby, and while her second trimester with Wilhelm had mostly been easy, this one had her body aching more frequently. She tired more, even when it was said that she was supposed to have a boost of stamina during this period, and had slept more than before.
Hans voiced his concern, urged her to have the doctors check on her even, but there was nothing out of the ordinary they should be worried about. Her body simply handled this pregnancy differently.
She had been lying on her side, facing the window, eyes shut close and breathing even, but sleep had not yet claimed her.
She heard the door opening and closing, the shuffling of when her husband undressed himself down into his sleeping attire, and the way the bed sunk under his weight as he joined her.
"Not asleep yet?" his voice was low, quiet and soft against her neck as he breathed her scent. When she nodded, his hold around her tightened just a little, pulling her even closer until her back was pressed against his chest. "Can't or won't?"
"Can't." he knew her well, they had been married for years after all, and they could tell when the other was troubled. "I keep feeling nauseous."
He hummed, the sensation rumbled from his chest, hand moving down until his palm cradled her stomach, holding their child. The motion alone, paired with his thumb drawing circles over her nightgown, was comforting.
"Did you tuck Wilhelm in?" she mumbled, once her nausea had lessened. "He shouldn't sleep past his bedtime."
"Yes." His lips pressed against her pulse. "He asked about you but I told him you're sleepy." She already excused herself to Wilhelm earlier, but she was not surprised that he had asked again. "It's alright, Elsa, he's learning to understand what it means in having a sibling on the way."
"Five more months…"
Hans had nodded, sideburns brushing against her skin, in agreement. "Five more months."