Rifiuto: Non Mirena

January, 1858

Buckingham Palace,

United Kingdom

The kiss seen 'round the world had ignited a confrontation between both councils and their respective monarchs by the time they returned home, who both aptly and smartly denied any sort of relationship. Hans had brought up to his council that it had been a stunt on the suggestion of the Prince Consort, to justify keeping trade agreements and alliances between the three countries; Elsa had expanded on the suggestion, saying that once the British Queen had heard of the Prince's suggestion, she had eagerly agreed- stating that,"It is the best way for my people to justify us keeping the alliances- they love you, almost as much as they love us, and they know that if we allowed such a kiss, then we must allow the treaties to continue."

Despite it being a boldfaced lie, both councils accepted the reasoning, and by the time the royal family returned to the United Kingdom mid-January for Vicky's wedding, only Lord Bismarck knew the truth behind the kiss. The family had settled into the guest quarters of the royal family's rooms once they'd arrived back at Buckingham Palace; the children had immediately gone in search of the Queen and Prince Consort, while Anna had stayed with her sister and brother-in-law. Since she'd decided to study midwifery, Anna felt as though she'd come into her own; she felt much more confident in herself than before, and though she still held a torch for Lord Bismarck, she had slowly begun to understand why he'd walked away from her.

When it came to the countries like Arendelle, the monarchy came first, in any and every situation. The Queen's word was law; everything she did was for the good of the people of Arendelle- be that form alliances with distant lands, or birth an heir to the throne to keep the monarchy going. The Queen of Arendelle was judge, jury, and executioner, she could make or break treaties and alliances, start and end wars, and- in Elsa's case- cause famine or stop famine, if she so desired. But everyone knew that Elsa was a benevolent ruler, who loved her people greatly, and would do anything for them, even sacrifice herself if need be. And it was the same for the Isles; Hans had done nothing but good since being placed on the throne, and his people and country had thrived greatly in the years since he'd taken the crown. Where once there was upheaval, there was now peace, prosperity, and strong alliances with other countries.

"Eighteen weeks, most likely nineteen, were I to guess. The midwife is better at calculations than I am. Though, you...do appear bigger than... than during your other pregnancies, Lise." Anna surmised thoughtfully, as she tugged the shift back over her sister's belly. The queen certainly looked bigger than she had with her others, but then again, thiswas her seventh pregnancy, and Anna had learned through her training that it was quite common for women to look bigger with each consecutive pregnancy, since their bodies were used to the familiar changes.Especially my sister, since this is her seventh child-

"Thank you, Annalei." Hans helped her sit up, and she reached over, taking the princess's hand. "As long as the baby's healthy, that's all that matters." She rubbed her belly, before standing. "Shall we go see if the children found Victoria and Albert?"

The wedding was held at the Chapel Royal of St. James's Palace, on the twenty-fifth of January. The palace was a flurry of activity that early morning at six am, however, Elsa found herself awoken at one that morning, thanks to the babe inside her; as quietly as she could- so as not to wake Hans- she slipped out of bed, intended for the water closet to relieve the pressure on her bladder. Once finished, she returned to bed, but was unable to get comfortable and settle down, and so instead pulled on a dressing gown and slippers, quietly slipping out of the room for the kitchens to fix a cup of tea. She was surprised to find someone hiding out in the kitchens when she got there, and after a moment, it struck her as to who exactly it was.

"Vicky?" The bride-to-be looked up, shooting to her feet once she realized Elsa was standing before her. "What are you doing up? It's your wedding day, you should be resting."

"Me? What about- you're- here, take my seat. You need rest more than I do, Auntie! You're in a delicate condition-"

She stopped midway to the stove at her aunt's scoff. "A delicate condition; forgive me, Victoria, but I am no more in a delicate condition than your uncle is. 'A delicate condition'- I have always hated that phrase. It's made to seem as though a woman cannot do anything while she carried a child; common women carry and birth their children and more during, and I'm no different, just because I'm of a higher class-"

"You're the Queen of Arendelle, Auntie." Vicky whispered, setting the cup in front of her aunt before taking a seat beside her. "You're of the highest class in the land. What does Uncle think of you working as you do while you carry another baby inside you?" Elsa lowered her cup, swallowing her tea.

"Uncle knows better than to voice his thoughts about it to me, Vicky. Uncle knows better than to voice his thoughts in regards to a lot of the customs of my country in regards to how I rear my children. Such as the length of time I nurse." The teenager cocked her head to the side, having caught her aunt's soft muttering.

"What do you mean, Auntie? Don't you use wet nurses?"

"No." The answer was so blunt it startled the girl, who slowly lowered the cup she held. "While I understand the value of wet nurses, I see no use for them. It ismy womb that has carried my children,my body that has gone through the process of birthing them into the world,my breasts that have grown full and round with milk meant for my babes, not another woman's. I am perfectly capable of not only carrying and birthing my own children, but nursing them as well. And just because a mother may wean the babe from her breast before the child's first birthday in the Isles, does not mean we do so in Arendelle."

"How... long do you nurse a babe in Arendelle?"

"It's custom for a woman to nurse her babe until it reaches the age of two. Once it reaches the age of two, then, she will wean her child from her breast, and not before. I have had to remind your uncle multiple times of that fact, and he merely rolls his eyes and leaves me be."

"Oh." They lapsed into silence for the next several minutes, before Vicky finally spoke again. "Auntie?" Elsa met her gaze. "Are you scared?"

The queen lowered her cup, thinking. After several minutes, she finally replied, "There is always fear when you birth a child, Vicky; it's normal. You are... expelling another living, breathing human being from your body. But that fear goes away the moment you hear it cry, the moment it is laid upon your chest and you see it, the moment you feel it against your skin," She sighed, rubbing a hand over her belly. "it's... the most amazing feeling, becoming a mother. I would not trade it for anything in the world." She met the princess's gaze, reaching over to take her hand. "But that is not something you need to worry about now. You must first focus on your wedding before you worry about focusing on having babies."

"Auntie?" Elsa turned to her once they returned to her room after finishing their tea. She waited, but instead of speaking, the Princess Royal wrapped her in a hug, burying her face in Elsa's shoulder. "Thank you. I needed that, and Mama is not exactly the easiest to talk to. I love her, but she rarely listens-"

The queen squeezed her gently. "Any time, Vicky. If you ever need to speak to Uncle or I, do not hesitate to write us. Or Anna even. We will always answer."