something’s wrong | the-king-of-arendelle + vivatreginax
“It’s only because I was so struck by you,” the man replied smoothly, a smile ever on his face, “that I forgot the steps.”
Indeed, the crown prince at the time had been quite nervous upon meeting the woman, finding her to be enchanting—not that he was one to show such nervousness outwardly, except, perhaps, in the form of missing a step or two while they danced their cotillions and waltzes.
He looked down at his child now, wondering what would await her future. Would there be balls? Would she dance with the grace her mother had?
“I look forward to the days our little girl will learn to dance,” he murmured, “I should like to dance with her, teach her myself sometimes.” He would twirl her around, listen to her giggles, lift her up like the light thing she would no doubt be.
The little bundle, of course, was too small now. And as the night would go on, she would still be just a tiny newborn babe.
Oh, but how wonderful it would be.
“Excuses, excuses,” she teased. “You always were such the flatterer.”
It was one of the reasons she’d fallen in love with him. It wasn’t often royal couples got to have that before their marriage - some learned to love each other over time, others simply put up with each other. They were one of the rare cases. His nervous face had drawn her instantly - it was quite endearing to find a prince who wasn’t completely pompous. He’d been trying to hide it, and she could tell, but she’d still seen it in his eyes.
“I’m sure she’ll love that,” the Queen murmured back, following his gaze to the small peaceful face. “I used to dance with my father when I was very small. He’d lift me or my sister onto his feet and move us around that way.”
Thinking of her husband doing the same thing was an image she couldn’t wait for. And yet she didn’t want to wish their time with Elsa away. There was plenty of time for growing and dancing and playing.
something’s wrong | the-king-of-arendelle + vivatreginax
The King took the slap with a smile. “Oh? Does it now? I thought that referred to dancing,” he said, a smirk playing on his lips, “Though I dare say that’s where it all started.”
His arms ever wrapped around his family, he gazed down at his Queen lovingly. “I still remember that ball, the time I first met you.”
The dance. The first steps into courtship. That’s how it was done, and the King’s experiences had been no different.
With a laugh, the Queen nodded.
“As I recall, you stepped on my feet at least twice during our first dance together,” Idun said, the playful smile still on her face. “Honestly, how could I do anything but fall in love with you?”
But her thoughts travelled back to that night as well. Finally being rescued from dusty conversations by a handsome prince asking for a dance. And now here they were, not all that long later, with a child held between them. A little princess, all of their own.
something’s wrong | the-king-of-arendelle + vivatreginax
The man smiled back warmly at Idun, returning the kiss, “As long as you are safe and healthy, we can have as many children as you want.”
His wife’s health came first.
Oh, but now as he looked at this young one in his arms, he thought that being a father to many children would be grand. Truly, would be.
But perhaps he should take the moment to enjoy the one he has now. However worried he was for her, he could not deny the peaceful look on his sleepy princess, and the sense of contentment it brought to his spirit.
“I am so blessed already, to have her, to have you,” he murmured, breathing in soundly as he pulled her close to him, “I haven’t thanked you enough."
"Darling, you worry too much,” Idun said, rolling her eyes fondly. “I’m fine, I swear. All’s well now this little bundle of trouble is here.”
She couldn’t say if Elsa’s birth had been unusual - being her first she had no way to know. But none of the midwives or doctors had said anything, and so she had assumed that was the normal experience. No one had told her off for cursing her husband to high hell either, so she assumed that was acceptable, considering the circumstances. As had warnings to never touch her again, soon forgotten when her daughter had been placed in her arms, screaming her head off.
They had certainly been assured she had vocal chords.
At his thanks, she batted at his chest. “Oh, pah,” she said, before raising an eyebrow, grinning playfully. “You know what they say: it takes two.”
something’s wrong | the-king-of-arendelle + vivatreginax
Taking his free arm, the man brought it around his wife’s shoulders, “We will,” he said, kissing the Queen’s crown, “And she’ll grow up, safe, healthy and loved.”
He wanted nothing more than that.
He was the King, he would protect his family, he would protect his kingdom. He was born for this duty, and he was trained, raised to keep his people safe and happy.
And if his child be a sorceress? So be it. Elsa was still his daughter, born under their noble name, chosen by God to be an heir, should no son come after her.
She was already the greatest source of good in his life, despite being only a few days old.
What a wonder.
With a smile on her face, she turned up to kiss him. “With lots of siblings running around, hopefully,” she said. “Just maybe a few years apart.”
Childbirth had been one of the most horrible things in her life, and was not something she wanted to experience again any time soon, but seeing her child only made her want more. Someone for Elsa to play with, more children to love.
Elsa was already fast asleep in his arms, but the Queen didn’t stop running her fingers through the soft tufts of her hair. It was so fine, and stood on end if she stopped.
She could only hope that any more children wouldn’t have the same affliction as her first - it may be benevolent, but there was no way to know.
something’s wrong | the-king-of-arendelle + vivatreginax
“No,” the King murmured, “It doesn’t seem to… so far."
Cradling the little blonde thing in his arms, the man took a moment to pet at her little wisps of hair. “I can keep an eye on her tonight,” he offered, Agdar’s eyes fixed on his little princess, “Make sure she’s alright.”
He probably would have been up late anyway, doing paperwork. The man didn’t see any problem in using those hours to watch over Elsa instead.
He had no clue what he should do if something were to go wrong, but Heaven help him if he didn’t do his best to protect her.
Nodding to the idea, Idun stayed silent. Her husband may not be alone in his watch. She doubted she’d be able to sleep with this plaguing her mind. One hand reached out to stroke her baby’s cheek, before settling to brush at the hair on her head. The very light hairs. Perhaps this was more of this…this magic’s doing.
While her parents were worrying, the princess herself seemed to be quite enjoying the attention. Even without the blankets swaddled around her, Elsa seemed to falling asleep in her father’s arms, a tiny yawn over coming her as she smacked her lips together. Eyes droopy, Idun smiled softly as she continued the soothing movement.
"We’ll keep her safe,” she murmured, watching her baby fall asleep.
something’s wrong | the-king-of-arendelle + vivatreginax
The man frowned, ever silent. With a little hesitance, a little carefulness in his movement, Agdar took off some of that melting ice and rubbed it gingerly in his hands, wondering if it would feel any different from normal slush.
Turns out it felt exactly the same. Just chilled, melting water, quickly turning into a puddle in the King’s palm. It didn’t seem harmful either; it did not hurt his skin, nor did it seem to curse him.
It was a little bit of relief in a moment of uncertainty.
Grabbing a handkerchief out of his pocket with his free hand, Agdar softly wiped at the little babe’s hands. “I think this must have come from her,” he said quietly. “There was nothing in her hands before.”
“But how?” the Queen murmured, touching the now dry skin of her baby’s palms. “Babies don’t just make snow, Agdar.”
Idun tried to thick of any hint towards Elsa’s strange ability. Other than the occasional chill during her pregnancy, she could think of nothing. Well, that and their princess’s oddly cool skin, but she’d put that down to being in Arendelle, a cool country of its own. But she was starting to think that both might add up to something more.
“Either way, it - it doesn’t seem to be hurting her, does it?” she said, uncertainty clear in her voice.
something’s wrong | the-king-of-arendelle + vivatreginax
“Perhaps in the morning, some of those books could be brought out again,” he murmured, in thought. If it turned out Elsa did have some magic to her, than there is a chance those books may be of some use to them.
“…May I? I should love to,” he said, smiling softly, as he took her invitation to the bed, sitting down next to her. With hands and arms ever so careful, he gently took the child from her mother’s grasp, holding the little head up properly, cradling her.
So light.
Oh, he was happy it was a daughter. In his heart of hearts, he was happy. The kingdom would perhaps prefer a son, but Agdar was quite pleased with his little girl.
The child, still young enough to have that flushed, red newborn skin, squirmed a little, her little arms moving around on their own. He gave a finger to her, and Elsa was quick to grab it. Her little fingers were wet, he realized, and after opening up her fingers, he noticed small amounts of slush coating her palms.
Idun was almost surprised by her husband’s ability to hold their baby correctly. Not that she should be - he was the type of man who would research such things, she was sure. But seeing such a large man cradling the tiny form of a baby made her smile.
She had worried at first, about producing a daughter. But all had been quick to reassure her that Arendelle laws accepted a woman just as much as a man as ruler - her Elsa would have the same right to the throne as if she had had a boy. Her first duty as queen had been fulfilled - she had produced an heir. Now they could enjoy it.
She rested a hand on his arm, leaning against his shoulder. The Queen was quick to spot what her husband at seen, and the colour drained from her face. Biting her lip, she looked worriedly up at the King, wondering what he was thinking at that particular moment.
something’s wrong | the-king-of-arendelle + vivatreginax
Walking back over to his wife, taking off his formal coat, he looked to little Elsa with a certain fondness to his eyes. Each little action she did, each little shake or curling of fingers reminded him that she was real, she was alive, and she was theirs.
But how could such a new thing produce snow? Though he believed his wife, and had seen the flakes on top of her head, he could hardly fathom such a thing from this little tiny human.
At Idun’s question, the King gave her a glance, before looking back down at his daughter. “…I don’t know,” he admitted, “I was never told of any such thing, but I have come across books that spoke of trolls and magic… and some of those stories involved my supposed ancestors, but I had always assumed such legends to be myth. Something expected from an old royal family.”
“Apparently not,” she said dryly.
Watching his face as he observed their daughter made her heart flutter. He could be a serious man, he was a King, but the way he looked at their baby was like a man looking at God. Not that she could blame him - she felt the same way sometimes.
“You can hold her, if you like,” she offered quietly, bouncing Elsa a little in her arms.
Her mother had always told her that men wanted nothing to do with babies. ‘Too much like hard word for them’, she had said. But the way Agdar was looking at their daughter was convincing Idun otherwise. It was rather sweet, really, the way he’d watch her movements. She moved over, making room for him next to her in the bed.
something’s wrong | the-king-of-arendelle + vivatreginax
Settling down at his seat on the bed, the King watched as his daughter was fed and burped. Sometimes he wondered why his wife wouldn’t simply have the castle’s wet nurses feed their daughter, but since she had been so insistent, he didn’t question it.
“It’s simply a precaution, dear,” he assured her, looking down at their little Elsa.
Just then, there was a knock to the door, quite formal in its rhythm. Slipping his wife a quick kiss on the head, as was his habit, he went to the door, opening it. “Captain, thank you for your quick timing.”
The old Captain stood at attention. “You wished to see me, Your Majesty?”
“Yes, I want guard duty doubled tonight.”
“Of course, Sir,” the old gent said, “…May I ask why, M’Lord?"
"That’s none of your concern for now,” the King said sharply, “Just keep a look out for anyone suspicious, is that clear?”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.” And with that, the man was off, and the doors were closed again.
“I know,” Idun said, with a sigh.
It had all been so perfect, and now…now her mind was filled with worry. She offered Elsa a finger to hold, and the little thing clung to it, seeming delighted to throw it around, shaking Idun’s hand in a way.
Carefully, the Queen laid Elsa on her thighs, she she could unwrap the blankets she was swaddled in. Underneath, the princess was in a light blue dress, her feet uncovered. Smiling, Idun ran a finger down each sole, even if it was too soon for giggles. Still, Elsa seemed to play along, pulling her feet away as her mother touched them.
“I don’t want her to over heat,” she said, before he had time to ask why she had unravelled the blankets.
Not daring to meet his eye, she finally asked him the question that had been plaguing her.
“Has there ever been…magic in your family?”
something’s wrong | the-king-of-arendelle + vivatreginax
As he closed the doors behind him, he gazed at his wife and child sitting on the bed, and couldn’t help but grin at the scene. It would soon be a familiar one, certainly, but right now, it was new. it was another sign of the wonderful change in his life.
“Just one,” the King replied, before turning to the walls. Reaching out to the oil lamps, Agdar took the knobs and shortened the wicks, dimming the light in their room. “I’ll have the Captain make sure the guards are on high alert tonight.” Once he was done with the lamps, he strode to the bed, sitting on its edge next to her.
“She better be quick then,” Idun commented, looking down at the happy baby in her arms. She was quite alright with her husband seeing such things - he was partially responsible, after all - but others? Not so much.
The Queen sighed. “I have a feeling that won’t do much. I…I don’t think it was external.”
As soon as Elsa was done, she was quick to button up her nightdress once more. Resting the baby against one shoulder, she patted her back, as the nurses had showed her, watching her husband. As soon as the princess was settled again, Idun looked at her tiny face, searching it for signs of…anything. Anything amiss, anything wrong. But there was nothing.