applesforanna:

   Anna thought about her mother’s question for a moment, before she decided that maybe Elsa was done with her lessons already. It was too early for that to be the case, but Anna was done with drawing and wanted to play with Elsa again. 

   ”Can I go play with Elsa now?” she asked, her legs kicking the air a bit as she looked up at her mother with pleading eyes.

   "It’s still a bit early for that, love,“ Idun said, interlacing her fingers together as she rested her palms against Anna’s stomach. She knew how Anna did so love playing with her big sister–and Elsa loved playing with Anna. But longer lessons was not only the curse of the elder sibling, but also the heir to the throne. Which meant Anna had to be kept entertained most days, during the gap between the ending of her own lessons and the end of Elsa’s.

   "Is there something else you’d like to do, sweetheart?" 

applesforanna:

   Anna took the compliment well; with a giggle and a hum of pride in her little heart. She was glad her mama liked it, for she was quite proud of it herself. 

   ”I think so too!” she declared, swinging her feet a little, “I like it better than the last one.”

   Her last picture was of one of the mares, but the princess had stared at it for quite a while after drawing it, and after a moment simply stated that horses were too hard, and then moved on to the drawing they had now.

   "Well,“ Idun said, leaning in so her chin was almost on Anna’s shoulder, "I think all your drawings are lovely. And I’m sure your Papa and sister will love this one too.”

   True, it was sometimes difficult to make out what her child had drawn, but she always got an explanation.

   "Are you going to do another drawing? Or do you want to do something new?“ she enquired. Keeping her daughter occupied while Elsa finished her lessons was testing sometimes, but enjoyable nonetheless. Anna was a lively and sweet little thing. 

applesforanna:

   ”Uh-huh,” the girl replied, handing her mother the picture so she could climb up on Idun’s lap. Once she was planted back on top, she spread the large paper and pointed at each person once more. “That’s you, Mama, and that’s Papa, and that’s Elsa and me! We’re in the gardens. The birds aren’t there though ‘cause it’s winter.” 

   Why flowers were around in winter wasn’t even a question to Anna.

   Taking the page very carefully, Idun helped Anna get balanced and settled before handing it back. Wrapping one arm around her daughter’s middle, she cuddled her closer, listening to the explanation of the picture. She didn’t question the odd combination of flowers and winter–Anna hadn’t seen many, after all. 

   "It’s beautiful, darling,“ she said, pressing a kiss to the top of Anna’s head. "You did a lovely job.”

applesforanna:

   ”Yeah,” the child giggled, hands finishing up the drawing, “like how some of the hounds are sneezing sometimes!” It was a rare thing, but Anna had sometimes caught the beginnings and ends of her Papa’s hunts, and she always marveled at all the dogs that when with the nobles then. 

   One day, she wanted to go with her Papa too, so she could play with the hounds. That’s what they did, right?

   "Yes, a bit like that,“ Idun replied, the smile not faltering, even as a sense of disapproval settled in her. Young girls shouldn’t even know of the hounds used for their father’s hunts in her opinion. She only hoped that Anna didn’t know the actual purpose of the dogs. Hunting for food was one thing. Hunting for sport what quite another, and she’d say it was her husband’s worst habit–if not for the tobacco.

   "All done?” she asked, waiting for Anna to climb back up and show her the new additions.

applesforanna:

   ”Mhm!” Anna replied, a content look on her face now that Elsa was getting drawn in too. She’d wanted to save Elsa for last, and work real hard on it. Unfortunately the child’s mind had nearly forgotten to add her in at all. “I’m putting flowers in it!”

   Her Mama liked flowers, and so did Elsa, and so did she. In fact, she was keen on putting flowers in the drawing Elsa’s hair too. Whether that would be legible was another question, but the child certainly was putting effort into it.

   "I can see that,“ Idun said with a laugh, still leant forward to observe the creative process. "My, that is a lot of flowers. We’ll have to mind we don’t get all sneezy, won’t we?" 

   Seeing her child get to draw, and play did so make her happy. To see their little faces when they’d show her what they’d made made her own break out in a bright, proud smile. And anything she was allowed to keep was safe in her personal drawer, along with other important documents and mementos.

applesforanna:

   Her mother’s words and her hands pulling the little girl up into her lap was enough to send out shy little giggles. 

   ”It’s everyone,” she stated, pointing at the colourful figures on the paper, “That’s you, an’ that’s papa, an’ that’s me.” 

   Then she stopped, the smile sliding off her face. She’d forgotten Elsa. Before any more words were spoken, the princess was pulling herself out of that lap just as soon as she’d gotten on it, furiously scribbling her sister in with her pencil.

   There had been a moment of confusion where she wondered where that fourth figure was. Quite how Anna had forgotten to include her older sister, Idun didn’t know, but it would seem the slight was being corrected at that very moment. She even assisted in the climbing down from her lap so the princess wouldn’t get hurt. 

   "Well, isn’t that nice,“ she said, leaning down a little to see what her daughter was up to. "Are you going to show Papa and Elsa too when it’s done?”

applesforanna

     "Well, isn’t that a beautiful drawing?“ Idun exclaimed, pulling both her daughter and the paper in her hands up onto her lap. "Don’t tell me we have a little artist on our hands?”

elsixe:

“Can I hear it? _{Can it talk already?” Elsa gasped, looking up at her mama. She laced her ear against the soft, nut swallowed tummy. She couldn’t hear anything, but she felt something in there. The belly was moving. “Mama. The baby is coming!” She said, feeling it was kicking her when she tried to listen.}

_{The girl went to grab a pillow and she placed it on the floor. “There. Now the baby can come!” She said, not think about what her mama said. It was still weeks till it comes.}

"Not talk, no,” _{Idun said with a laugh as Elsa pressed her ear to her stomach.
The laugh only increased at the toddler’s alarm with the baby kicked, a familiar movement
for the Queen.}

_{“Don’t worry,” she said, bending carefully to lift Elsa back up to her, “the baby’s not coming
for a few weeks yet, love. You just felt them kicking. Here.”}

_{Turning, she sat Elsa on the bed, guiding her hands so they rested flat against Idun’s stomach.
“Can you feel your sibling kick? They like to wake me up doing that.” She tried to make her face
unamused, but the task was too difficult, and so she just rested her hands over Elsa’s tiny ones.}

elsixe:

Elsa hides her face in her small hands. _{A crimson red closer spread on her cheeks. She didn’t cry so much. Did she? She thought about being an older sibling. Her mama was and Elsa wanted to be her mama. “Okay. So can I play all sorts of games? Can I teach how making magic? She asked and made some snowflakes popping up from her palm. What if her sibling has powers like hers? They could do everything together. Building snowman or a snow castle. The thought about having someone like her brought a huge smile on the blonde girl’s face. She now want a sibling.}

_{“Mama. How long do we have to wait for the baby to come? Will it come out and the stork will put it in a blanket and handing it to Papa? Gerda told me the stork always bring the baby. But, how can he when it’s in your belly?”}

Glad to see Elsa quickly change her mind _{in regards to a sibling, Idun
settled in to answer her questions.} 

_{“You’ll be able to play lots of games once the baby has grown enough,” she said, thinking
they’d have to help show their eldest how to be gentle with the little thing. “They may have
magic, or they may be like Papa and I.” The sight of the small snowflakes brought a smile
to her face. “But if they don’t have magic, I’m sure they’d still like to play with yours.”}

_{To the final questions, she wondered why Gerda even bothered telling the princess such
things. She was too clever for them, figuring out the truth and then getting confused.} 

_{“Not long now, love, just a few more weeks,” she said, cleaning off Elsa’s hand with her
fingers. “And the stork’s just a story. Would you like to see if you can hear the baby in my
tummy?”}

elsixe:

“If it’s a prince, _{can’t his own room
be in the dungeon. I’m sure a prince will carry much more than
a princess and then we will never have any sleep around here.”
Elsa stated with a grumpy face. She didn’t want a sibling, less a
little brother. That sounded annoying. Boys aren’t fun anyway.
And a sister, not much better. Elsa liked it when it was just her,
Mama and Papa. Why did they have to get another?}

With another shake of her _{head, Idun brought
her little girl around so she was laying cradled in the crook of
her arm, practically sitting on her belly.} 

_{"No one shall be sleeping in the dungeon,” she said, poking Elsa’s
nose with one finger. “And both princes and princesses cry the exact
same amount. You weren't exactly quiet when you were only a tiny
baby. I have a little brother, and I survived just fine. Just think of it this 
way, you’ll have a new friend to play with, and teach things to.”}