(This chapter has been revised on 7/21/2024)

Life's Too Short

After the royal family had their reunion, Anna was immediately treated with the utmost care. First, she had a warm meal and a glass of hot chocolate. After the meal, the royal doctor checked her out despite her telling him she was okay, but her father wanted to be sure. Once the doctor cleared her, she was given a hot bath, which she spent almost an hour in before putting on clean, warm clothes.

Once Anna had been taken care of, the inevitable confrontation with her parents soon came. Kristoff had left to take care of Sven earlier, so he wasn't with Anna. The family was in the throne room, and it was just them. Her parents had asked her questions about what happened. She shared how she wasn't paying attention and accidentally ended up in the wolves' territory, which led to her being chased by them and separated from her horse.

"What happened after that?" Agdar pressed on.

"I tried to walk back here, but I got more lost. The blizzard only made it worse," Anna explained further.

"How did you survive that storm?" Idun wondered, her husband making the same curious expression on his face.

For the moment, Anna didn't say anything. Ruling monarchs or not, she knew it was wrong to lie to her parents. But Anna couldn't tell them about Elsa for her own reasons. She had heard stories about how several kingdoms have persecuted people with magic and dubbed it as witchcraft. One example Anna can recall was stories about Arendelle's close trade partner Weselton, or WeaselTown as she secretly likes to call it, who had once held witch trials long ago in which many of the accused ended up executed. While Arendelle hasn't had a history like that, as far as Anna knows, she didn't know how her parents felt about magic but didn't want to risk Elsa being hunted down as a witch.

"I found a cave and hid in it," Anna answered in an attempt to move on from the topic. "I guess you can say I got lucky. Really lucky."

"Please just stick with that."

Her parents just looked at each other for a moment. They looked as if they weren't sure what to say.

"That's good to hear," Agdar responded, making Anna gave a mental breath of relief. "But why didn't you come back after the storm ended?"

With that question, Anna mentally panicked. Quickly, she composed reasons why she hadn't come back soon after, and then she gave her answer.

"During the storm, I tripped over something. My ankle was sore, and I wasn't sure if it was sprained. Since I didn't want to risk making it worse, I stayed in the cave until I was sure it was better."

That wasn't a total lie. Anna's sore ankle prevented her from leaving Elsa's ice palace. But it was still partly a lie since Anna had chosen to remain with Elsa in the days after the storm. She decided to quickly finish up her survival story.

"I stayed there until earlier today when I figured it was fine. I walked until Kristoff found me. Well, Sven found me first, but you guys get the idea. And here I am, safe & sound." Anna paused for a moment. "But...I guess you want to get to the elephant in the room."

Anna paused as she lowered her head. She braced herself for the scolding her father would give. To her surprise, all she got was her father patting her shoulder.

"Like I said earlier, we can discuss that later," Agdar assured, prompting Anna to look back at him. "For right now, we're just happy you're back."

Anna gave a small smile as she hugged her father again. As they were embracing, Idun watched them. The queen was surprised at how lightly her husband was taking it in. Like Anna, she had expected Agdar to give her the scolding of the century. Granted, it was justifiable, given that Anna disobeyed him, but she was afraid that he would go overboard given the circumstances.

"How about this?" Agdar proposed. "From the rest of the night, nothing else matters. It's just going to be me, your mother, and you. How does that sound?"

"I'm okay with that," Anna declared. "After all, you've spent three days worried about me, but now that I'm back, you can set them free."

"Well, it was a rough few days, but now there's nothing to fear. All that matters right now is that you're back here."

"We've been worried about you for so long," Idun added. "So let's forget who's right and forget who's wrong."

"Good with me!" Anna beamed.

"We can relax now that you're back in this court." Idun suggested. "Because life's too short."

The whole family was familiar with that phrase. Like Agdar, Idun had her own mantra, 'Life's Too Short.' She had valued it since she was a young age. It was a mantra her parents had taught her and one she had passed along to her family.

Anna smiled. "Life's too short to always feel restricted and closed when there are things to be explored."

"And life's too short to not be where you belong. A place where you'll always be loved," Agdar tightly hugged his daughter.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Anna followed.

"I never understood, but now I do."

Anna pulled away. "Life's too short to miss out on a family like you."

Idun looked at the happy sight of her husband and daughter. Perhaps, for once, they would not clash and be happy.

"So, how's my horse?" Anna asked her father.

"Oh, he's fine," Agdar responded.

"Do you think he'll be able to ride soon? Especially far distances."

"I'm not sure. Why do you-?" Agdar stopped himself as a sudden realization came to him. "You're not serious, are you?"

"What?" Anna uttered. "I was wondering if he is so that-"

"That you go back out there? That's how this story ends?"

"Sort of!" Anna called out to her father as he turned away. "It's just like it was, except we've made amends."

Agdar turns back. "But that's been your plan? To once again break my rules?"

"Whoa now!" Idun quickly chimed in an attempt to stop where she feared this conversation would go. "Don't get upset. Let's not act like big fools."

"Alright! I think that's enough of this exchange." Ignoring Idun's words, Agdar gently grabbed Anna's hand and walked her to the exit away from the queen. "But hopefully, we're all on the same page. Okay! Now that's all done, let's make new rules that we won't go against. All clear? Good!"

"Wait!" Idun called out as her husband.

"Please don't do this, Agdar. You were doing so well."

Before Idun could do anything else, Anna pulled her arm out of Agdar's grip when they made it halfway to the door. "There it is! Those rules you'd love to shove in my face! You did well there for a spell, but now you're back in the same place. Lecture me all you want, but I think it's obvious to me that the man right here is a pure control freak!"

Idun let out a soft gasp as Anna said those words to Agdar. The man in question was also shocked by what his daughter said. He suppressed those feelings and turned to his daughter with a firm glare.

"You don't know what you're talking about because you don't care! You're a child who doesn't listen!"

"You are so unfair!" Anna barked back, trying to hide the hurt feeling in her voice. "I swear! I'm through with taking your outrageous fatherly support!" Arms crossed, the daughter turned her back on her father.

"Life's too short to let you treat me as a fragile doll. Like you have throughout my entire life." Anna reprimanded bitterly, with her back still to her father. Too long has she let her father walk all over her with his protective nature. And she's finally had enough.

Agdar rubbed his temple as he tried to block her words out, ignoring the nagging feeling that he agreed with his daughter. Why can't Anna understand that? Why does she always have to go against his words? "Life's too short to listen to a reckless girl who doesn't understand what I do is for her own good."

Anna turned back. "You don't know…"

"You have no idea…" Followed by Agdar.

"What I've been through!" Both Anna & Agdar shouted at the same time.

"Because of you/To protect you!" Anna & Agdar responded with frustration, respectively.

It was at that moment Idun realized that this conversation was going nowhere. It had kept on getting worse. This was not the first time she had witnessed her husband & daughter clash. Most of the time she would let them blow off steam and later apologize. She only interfered if it was getting out of hand. This time, however, was different. This was perhaps the worst she had ever seen them. The queen realized that she had to put a stop to it now. With two people with fiery personalities, such as Agdar & Anna, it was a recipe for disaster.

"Life's too short to waste another minute," Agdar scolded.

"Life's too short to even let you shut it!" Anna scoffed back.

"ENOUGH!" Idun shouted loudly, seizing the argument between her husband & daughter. "I think maybe we need a moment to cool down."

Agdar's expression turned to what Anna liked to call his King Face. It was a very neutral expression, one that he wore during meetings to hide his emotions. It sometimes made Anna uneasy.

"Perhaps you're right, dear," Agdar agreed with a firm tone. "I think we all need some...rest. We'll finish this in the morning."

"No, we'll finish it now!" Anna exclaimed.

"Anna, as your father & the king, you are ordered to listen-"

"No! You listen!" Anna once again cut off her father. "My whole life, you've done these things because they're for my own good. I'm not a kid anymore! I'm almost 15 for crying out loud! Have you ever once considered asking me what's good for myself? NO! Instead, you go around telling me what to do. What not to do. Claiming it to be best for me! Well, guess what? They're not the best!"

"Anna, what do you know what's best for you?"

"More than you! All you know is being paranoid!"

Those words had stung the king like a hornet. For a moment, Agdar's king face briefly morphed into a hurt one. It lingered for a good second before he retained his King Face."...This conversation. Is. Done. Now, excuse me." Agdar regained his composure before walking away.

"Dear, I don't think you-" Idun started as Agdar walked.

"Well, I am!" Agdar snapped back, resuming his walking. "Goodnight."

"Papa, no! No, wait!" Anna grabbed her father's arm.

Agdar quickly turned around. "Let go of my arm!"

"Papa please, please! I can't live like this anymore!"

The king stopped in his tracks and turned to face his daughter. Anna's look aches Agdar's heart. His daughter's face was filled with sadness, desperation, and confusion.

Despite what Anna may believe, Agdar did not enjoy putting his daughter through this. For a moment, he wanted to tell her why. Wanted to talk about her lost sister. How he lost her from his safe embrace and the pain he had felt in the months after. But once again, the voice in his head told him otherwise and he remained silent. He couldn't bear to tell her. The pain was just too much for him. All he could tell her was the same answer he had given many times.

"It's for the best," Agdar breathed, trying not to choke up.

Anna's expression twisted into devastation, eyes becoming glassy. Her grip on her father's arm loosened, setting him free of her grasp. Not bearing to see the disheartening look on her face any longer, Agdar turned around. Crossing his arms and taking a deep breath, he started walking away again. He had to keep mentally reminding himself that she'd come to understand one day. The further he walked away, the more he recited his mantra repeatedly to keep his emotions in check.

Conceal, don't feel.

However, Anna just had about enough. This is the opportunity for her to learn why her father treated her like he did. That opportunity was walking away from her. She wanted, no, she needed to know. Now.

"What made you like this?" Anna cried out.

"Enough, Anna..." Agdar warned.

Conceal, don't feel.

Anna did not intend to stop. "No! Why? Why do you shield me from the world?"

Conceal, don't feel.

"Why are you so scared of the world?"

Conceal, don't fe-

"What are you so AFRAID OF?!"

And then, it happened. Something in the king snapped and he turned around. The storm building up within him had finally raged out as he did.

"I WON'T LOSE YOU TOO!"

Those words echoed throughout the room before getting silent. It was so quiet you could hear the smallest pin drop. The only sound heard was Agdar's heavy breathing after his outburst. Anna had just stood in her spot in a confused state. The words her father had practically shouted repeatedly in her head. They were spoken with such raw pain the likes the princess had never heard of. Idun looked at her husband wide-eyed, wondering if he realized what he had just said.

"L-lose me too?" Anna broke the silence after a short period. "What do you mean lose me too?"

It was then the king comprehend what he had said. He started hyperventilating as panic built up within him. He quickly glanced at his wife, who stood agape.

"Papa?" Anna's confused voice reached his ears

Agdar took another look at his clearly confused daughter. He contemplated many ways to respond, but he would not use any responses. For he did something he was no stranger to: Running.

"Papa?!" Anna called out as her father ran out of the throne room. "Papa, where are you going?"

The princess was also about to run after her father. She still needed answers. However, a gentle grip on her shoulder had prevented her from doing so.

"Let him go," Anna heard her mother's firm but soft voice say.

"But I...he...what's going on, mama?"

For a moment, the queen was hesitant before answering. "Anna...whatever questions you have right now, we'll answer them tomorrow. I promise."

Anna didn't say anything but looked to comply. Idun left the throne room as quickly as her husband did. This left Anna alone, more confused than ever. Idun quickly walked through the hallway when she ran into Gerda.

"Your majesty! Is everything alright? I just saw the king running down here."

"No, it isn't." Idun almost wanted to say but wouldn't.

"Everything is fine, Gerda," Idun responded, trying to be professional. "Could you and Kai take care of Anna's needs for the rest of the evening, please?"

"Of course my queen."

After saying her thanks, Idun resumed walking. She needed to find her husband quickly. Fortunately, she had several ideas about where he might be. And she didn't care if he was shutting out or not. She needed to talk to him.

"So much for a happy family reunion…"

The moment he entered his study, Agdar took a moment to compose himself. Words can't even describe how he was feeling at this moment. He paced back and forth in the room rapidly while also constantly changing the positions of his arms, from being crossed over his chest to having both hands on his head. Many thoughts scrambled through his head as he tried to calm himself.

"Get it together. Control it. Don't feel. Don't. Feel."

A knock heard on the door interrupted his train of thought, however.

"I don't want to be bothered right now," Agdar almost shouted.

The sound of the door opening and closing was heard. Agdar grew more irritated, assuming it was just an overly concerned servant. Turning around, he saw that it was not a servant that had entered but his wife.

"Idun? What are you?"

The queen slammed the door shut behind her. "You and I need to talk."

So if you guys figured out the hint, congrats! This chapter was inspired by the deleted song Life's Too Short (once again, included lyrics)and 'The Party is Over' scene from the movie. They're two versions of the song (A soundtrack & storyboard version, both of which can be found on YouTube) so I think either version can work well here.

Now we all know that in the film, Agdar & Idun weren't exactly...100% good parents. By that I mean they had good intentions and loved their daughters, yet they ended up negatively affecting them. But that's what I like about them. They're both complex humans that make human mistakes. Not villains like some people like to see and its a shame some people see them that way. I honestly believe that they're the most misunderstood characters in the movie. You can dislike them for the decisions they made, but they're definitely no Gothel nor Frollo. Its like the line from the movie.

"People make bad choices when they're mad, scared, or stressed."

While this is an AU fic, I would think after what happened to Elsa, Agdar (I mostly believe Agdar was somewhat of the instigator in the film) would probably still have those traits from the film. Doing things he deemed for the best, but still ended up negativity affect his daughter. In this case, Anna.

I always imagine Idun as the family peacekeeper. 'A Frozen Heart' (which, as far as I'm concern, is canon to the movie) stated that whenever Agdar was about to lose his temper, she always managed to calm him down. Though I also see her as some who puts her foot down when she needs too (or basically she goes I-DUN with your shit...yeah bad joke). Maybe even helping him realize his mistakes. Heck the novel even stated that she and Agdar were going to end Elsa's isolation once they came back from their trip (and we all know why that didn't happen...). We don't know what made them come to that, but I like to think it was Idun's doing.

Anyways, I didn't mean to go on a rant here. I just needed to get that off my chest. I hope you guys still enjoyed the chapter though.

Thanks for the favs, follows, and reviews. Happy Reading. (Also, Happy Valentines Day).

P.s I have decided to add 'Kristoff' to the character tag.