Author's Note:

So, I just wanted to clarify, I am aware that this chapter may not follow Tangled 100%, mainly because Rapunzel looks to be closer to a 1-year-old when the lantern is launched in her honor. But I thought that maybe Disney just didn't want to put her as a newborn. I work with babies, and when they are only two days old they honestly aren't all that exciting. (Beautiful, though!) But it seemed kind of strange that they would release a lantern to celebrate her birth after she had been with them for a year. Anyways, that being said, here's the new chapter!

The sun was mere inches above the horizon when Freja felt it.

"No…" she whispered to herself. And to her daughter, "Not yet."

She had been experiencing some discomfort since lunchtime, but now it was more precise and growing in intensity. Standing on a low balcony overlooking the square, Freja could see the flicker of light that was Thomas's candle spark into existence below her. Oh, how she had loved watching the launch when she was a child! It really was one of the most beautiful things she had ever witnessed. Although this evening they were only releasing a single lantern, a tribute to the new princess, Freja remembered seeing the evening skies filled with the floating lanterns, flooding Corona in warm, colorful light.

Gripping the hand railing of the balcony to steady herself, Freja clenched her jaw and tried to focus on the ceremony that was taking place. Thomas was holding the lit candlestick, eagerly watching and waiting for the sun to slip below the horizon. Rosie stood, holding little Rapunzel, whose hair seemed to be growing even as they stood there. Could that be possible? Freja wondered. She dismissed her thoughts as Stellan walked over to join her, the same time another fist of mild pain dug into her abdomen. Her fingers tightened on the railing. Freja found herself staring off into the dusk, but she wasn't seeing anything, not the joyfully lit kingdom or the oncoming nighttime festival. The pain wasn't bad, really, but the fact that she was feeling it at all sent shivers down her spine. Not yet. Oh, please. I'm not ready. We're not home.

"You okay?" Stellan was staring at her face, which Freja quickly checked. No. She wasn't going into labor yet. No need to alarm anyone.

"Yeah, why?"

"You look…" Stellan began, and then stopped. Freja was wearing a lovely, light blue dress that showed off just how pregnant she was. Rosie had pulled up her hair and braided and twisted it so that it was piled elegantly on her head.

"… gorgeous," he finished with a smile.

Freja grinned back up at him and snuggled against his side. He felt warm and solid, and very safe.

The sun had finally dipped below the horizon, and a cheer went up from the crowd as Rosie walked forward a few paces, turning to show Rapunzel off. And to show the princess her people. Freja smiled. She imagined the looks on her own people's faces when she introduced Elsa for the first time. Of course, they would love her. How couldn't they?

Thomas held the wick of the candle up to the bottom of the lantern. It was a simple but elegant golden one with a painted symbol of the sun on its side. As the king lit it, the lantern started to glow, beautiful and bright, like a small yellow star. Together, the king and queen of Corona lifted the lantern, and as the air inside become warm, it rose on its own like a tiny hot air balloon. Rapunzel, who had been awake (surprisingly) and alert for the whole ceremony, held a small fist in the air. She was most likely stretching, but from Freja angle it looked as though she were waving as her lantern flew off into the dusk.

The audience watched in still silence for only a few moments, then broke out in happy applause, cheering for their new princess. Freja watched as the floating lantern grew smaller and smaller. The small amount of wind present that afternoon had died down, and the lantern rose straight up into the air. It was nearly at the top of the castle, glowing brightly, when Freja doubled over, gasping.

That was a big one.

"Freja!" Stellan grabbed her by the shoulders and steadied her.

"I'm fine, I'm fine."

He watched as she clutched her abdomen and leaned heavily against the railing, wincing.

"Freja…" her husband said her name in a way that made her wonder why she ever hid anything from him. He could see right through her, "…how long since they started?"

She looked down at her feet. Why couldn't she just keep up with the denial? Why couldn't she just hold off on giving birth until they got back home to Arendelle? Freja answered the questions in her mind: I can deny it all I want. It won't stop her from coming. And there is no way I could hold off for a week on a boat. The thought of being on the ship, rocking back and forth, made her feel nauseous.

"A couple hours," she said to Stellan.

"Why on earth wouldn't you tell anyone? Why wouldn't you tell me? Our daughter is about to be born, and you're acting like you don't want her to be!"

Freja's eyes narrowed, then started to fill with tears. Oh gosh, she was so tired of being this emotional! "I'm… I'm so scared, Stellan!"

He wrapped his arms around her immediately. "You have nothing to worry about. The pregnancy went completely normal. Elsa's going to be fine! And you're going to be an amazing mother!"

Freja felt like she had been punched in the gut, along with the contractions. She shook her head. Then she spilled. She told Stellan everything about Alazair and his proposal, that she had taken it, about her talk with Rosie, and why she had wanted to leave in the morning. Her husband listened in stunned silence, and appeared to be so shocked that Freja half expected his jaw to drop. It didn't.

"You… you told him that?" Stellan said in a dark tone, "That he could be there? Freja, he could have any number of horrible plans…"

"I know! I… I just wanted to save Rosie! That was all I could think about. And now… Stellan, I don't want him anywhere near Elsa!"

Another large contraction ripped through her body, and Freja gritted her teeth, her knuckles white as they clenched the hand rail. She felt like something monstrous was inside her, gnawing its way. Her mind flashed back to the vision of Elsa in her dream. She shook the image out of her head.

Stellan pried her hands from the rail and held them tightly, grimacing slightly as she squeezed them hard.

"He won't touch her, Freja. You have my word. Now, I think you've delayed this long enough. Come on. Let's get you inside. At least one of Corona's princesses will give birth in its castle."

The birthing room was meant to be relaxing and cozy, Freja knew, but it didn't feel that way at all. It seemed far too cramped. It was originally one of the smaller bedrooms that had been converted to make way for Rosie's birth. Obviously, she had failed to take advantage of it. The walls were a calming ocean blue, and soft green drapes hung on the windows. The bed had been stripped of all bedding with the exception of a large, dark colored blanket. To hide the blood? Freja thought as she settled herself onto it. Her mind drifted to Alazair's cold smile. According to his plans, he was to be here when Elsa was born. In this very room as she took her first breath. Then again, she had never, ever planned on inviting him in. How would he know? Spies? Magic? Anyone could be a danger to them! She scolded herself. She had to stop thinking like this. For crying out loud, her daughter was about to be born!

Her daughter! Elsa! Suddenly, Freja felt herself growing very giddy with nerves and anticipation. How on earth was she so focused on everything that could go wrong that she forgot about the miracle that was about to take place! She was about to meet her daughter! Excitement coursed through her. Excitement mixed with something else. Why was she so afraid?

Rosie entered with Rapunzel and sat on the edge of the bed, her face glowing as she smiled at her little sister.

"How are you doing?"

Freja shrugged. Physically, she felt about to explode in a heap of bloody red pain. Emotionally, she felt like she would lose all dignity and break down into sobs any second now. Mentally, she felt on the verge of a psychotic break. Yes. A shrug was all she could manage.

"It'll be okay," Rosie said, patting Freja arm in simultaneous motion to her opposite hand patting Rapunzel's back. She looked around the fully furnished birthing suite, "Besides, you've got it a lot easier than I did!"

Freja cracked a smile and Rosie knew it was all her sister could do not to think about the miracle man and the threat he posed.

The door swung open and Freja jumped, then relaxed as Stellan walked toward her.

"You're glistening, my love," he said with admiration.

"It's sweat."

"Yeah, but you make it look so good!"

Freja stifled a laugh as a contraction gripped her. She clutched Stellan with one hand and Rosie with the other. The contraction lasted for several minutes, then dropped off suddenly, and Freja gasped and released her captives. Thomas inched into the room slowly, eyeing the trio on the bed.

"It's fine," Freja told him, "You can come in."

"I've positioned two guards at the door. We won't be bothered, I assure you," the king spoke.

Freja's breath quickened. Would a mere two guards be enough? This was a miracle man they were talking about. She looked at Stellan, and her husband rubbed her back softly.

"Stellan…"

He knew what was going through her mind. He had seen the same look in her eyes back in the fall when she had been threatened by the Ice Lord. Point blank terror, hidden under layers of calm disposition, guarded by her forced lightheartedness. Stellan's eyes shifted downward, motioning Freja to follow his gaze. The King of Arendelle's sword leaned against his knee.

Freja let out a whimpering sigh. Stellan. She really didn't deserve him. But she knew and trusted him to protect her, and to protect Elsa. No matter what.

Another contraction. More hands subjected to very hard squeezing.

The minutes rolled by painfully slow, but quickly at the same time. A quiet filled the little room. Everyone was holding their breath, waiting and watching for the precious moment. Everything seemed to happen in short little chapters.

Several contractions, one after the other. Freja thought she was going to vomit.

Mathias, one of the court physicians, entered gradually and prepared for the birth.

Stellan held Freja's hand tightly, telling her to breath. In, out, in, out.

More contractions. Or one big one. Freja couldn't tell anymore. She felt like her body was disconnected from her mind, and she was floating up above, not able to feel or hear anything.

Mathias's mouth moved. Freja hardly heard a word he said, but she guessed it. It was time to push.

Then came a very unpleasant sensation through which Freja really remembered nothing but her own screaming. Stellan stood over her, looking a bit worried, and clutching her hand just about as hard as she was squeezing his.

Then, in the next instant, a new scream pierced the air. Not a painful scream, but a beautiful, new life kind of shriek that only comes from a pair of perfectly formed but yet untested lungs. Freja flopped back, exhausted, on the bed and listened to the sound. Elsa.

Opening her eyes, Freja took a deep breath. Stellan was holding someone precious, a beautifully tiny bundle, and he was crying.

"What? What's wrong?" Freja whispered.

Stellan laughed and leaned forward to place the bundle on Freja chest. "Nothing. Nothing at all. She's perfect."

As her daughter was rested on her chest, Freja had to agree.

"Oh, Elsa…" she cooed. The princess had large blue eyes and fluffy, bleach-blonde hair that stuck out in every direction. She had ten fingers and ten toes, a tiny button nose, a small, bow-shaped mouth that was moving around silently, as if she were trying to talk, two perfect ears, and round little cheeks. Her arms flailed in the arms, searching for something solid. Freja held her thumb up to the tiny hand, and Elsa's fingers closed around it gently. Tears came once again to the queen's eyes. Everything in the whole world was wonderful and fresh and new. And Elsa was here!