Chapter 1: The Crown Prince

All was quiet in the Kingdom of Arendelle. The streets were empty, the dwellings silent, the shops and stores all having closed for the night. Excepting a few pubs and hotels that still bustled with the awake, the kingdom steeped in the deep silence of slumber.

But on this particular night, the calm was broken. All through the vast corridors of the castle of Arendelle echoed a woman's shrill, laboured cries. The Queen was giving birth. In the royal bedchamber, Queen Elsa of Arendelle writhed in the throes of labour, the bed frame beneath her trembling from her exertion. At her side kneeled her husband; a midwife was bent intently at the foot of the bed.

Nothing is ever easy with Elsa, thought King Henrik, with no small degree of fondness.

From the beginning of their courtship, the Queen had always been… difficult. Indeed, it had taken a full three months even for formalities to be dropped between the two, and a full three years before Elsa had conceded to marriage.

The King was snapped from his reverie by yet another blood-curdling scream from his wife. Gripping Elsa's hand in his own, he whispered words of comfort to the Queen as she endured contraction after contraction. The bedpost over which Elsa's other hand was fiercely clenched crackled and groaned as tendrils of frost etched patterns onto the wood. The King mentally praised his wife for her astonishing control even in such a situation. A full-blown blizzard would have been expected given the Queen's condition, but Elsa had managed to keep her powers in check throughout the ordeal.

Thinking back, Henrik had never feared Elsa's abilities. Where others saw a frigid darkness, he had seen strength and power; where others saw a wicked sorceress, he had seen an artist with unparalleled beauty and love. Her platinum blonde hair, ice-blue eyes, and cool alabaster skin captivated the former prince the instant he laid eyes on her, and while others had been wary of the "Snow Queen", Elsa's powers had only added to Henrik's infatuation. In time, their relationship had blossomed into romance.

Reminiscing his courtship of the Queen, King Henrik stood vigil at the bedside as Elsa laboured on through the night.

The crack of dawn was heralded by the faint cries of a newborn child. After wrapping the baby in a blanket, the midwife handed the precious bundle to the triumphant royals.

"It's a boy, Majesties".

Elsa took the child almost reverently into her arms, smiling tentatively down upon her son.

"I did it". Elsa's voice shook with fatigue.

"I never had a doubt in my mind," said Henrik, though his own smile shone with gratitude.

There was a long pause. Elsa sighed.

"I never thought this moment would come".

At this, Elsa's voice trembled with more than just tiredness. "I'd resigned myself to a life of solitude as a child, and yet Here I am, a mother. If only my parents could see me now."

"You don't give yourself enough credit," whispered the King. "And as long as I live, you will never be alone".

Another pause. "What shall we name him?"

Henrik mused over the question, fingers stroking his short beard.

"Thomas, after my grandfather. He was a wise man. A good man."

"Thomas".

The Queen smiled, testing the name on her tongue. "Prince Thomas of Arendelle".

Not two seconds after the statement had left her lips, Elsa heard an all too familiar squeal from behind the doors of the bedchamber. Henrik and the midwife also turned towards the doors, knowing all too well the source of the noise. Within a heartbeat, in burst Princess Anna, her husband Kristoff in tow.

"Congratulations Elsa! You're a mother!" exclaimed the exuberant redhead, beaming as she practically flew towards her older sister. "Ha! I told you it was going to be a boy!"

The royal couple smiled at the energetic woman.

"Presenting his Royal Highness, Crown Prince Thomas of Arendelle!" proclaimed Henrik a pompous official voice, gesturing grandly at the baby nestled in the crook of Elsa's arm.

As if noticing him for the first time, Anna stared at her nephew in awe.

"Wow, is this the baby prince? He's so small! So precious!" Clapping her hands with barely controlled glee, the bouncing younger sister held her arms out towards the Queen. "Lemme hold him!"

Elsa turned her body away from Anna, protectively shielding her child with an arm. "Promise you won't drop him?" she asked, icily.

Anna gasped, placing a hand over her heart for dramatic effect. "Elsa! I'm hurt! I have two children of my own you know! I should know how to hold a baby!"

"Actually, I should have you know that I held the children for the most part," muttered Kristoff from out in the hallway

"You're not helping!" called Anna, shooting a pointed glare at her husband.

"Alright, alright, I'll have to let you hold him eventually anyway", Elsa relented, a hint of humor in her voice. She gingerly handed the baby to her sister.

"Ooh, look at you!" Anna cooed, tickling the baby's stomach. At that, the child opened its eyes and fixed Anna with a surprisingly piercing slate-gray stare. "Hi little guy! I'm your aunt Anna! We're gonna have lots of fun together, you and I!"

Elsa snorted. "What, are your two children not enough?"

Anna stuck her tongue at her sister. "I'll have you know that it's not becoming of a lady to snort."

Walking over to Henrik, she held up the child for him to see.

"Look! He has your eyes!"

"He does!" smiled the King, taking his son into his arms.

"Hmm… I wonder what colour hair he'll have," Anna mused.

At that moment, the door handle turned again to reveal two young children and a familiar snowman.

"Annabeth, Christopher! I told you to wait outside!"

The midwife, who had remained silent throughout the entire conversation, finally spoke up.

"Highnesses, I think it would be best for you to continue this another time. The Queen is, after all, very tired from her ordeal."

"Truly", said Elsa, as she adjusted herself into a position better suited for sleeping.

Kristoff stepped in the door, scooping up both his children, one in each arm.

"Alright, Aunt Elsa needs her rest."

"Oh, I'm so sorry for keeping you up!" Anna apologized, as she began to follow her husband out the door.

Elsa laughed tiredly. "Ah, it's quite alright. Although, how you endured this twice is beyond me…"

And with that, the Queen closed her eyes.

Elsa awoke to darkness. Looking about the bedchamber, she found it empty and silent. It was then that the reality hit her anew. She was a mother. The Queen closed her eyes again, savouring the feeling. Ever since that fateful night on their honeymoon, she had known this day would come, but now it was so much more genuine.

She was a mother.

The sound of the door handle brought Elsa back to earth.

"Is she awake?"

Henrik's voice. Elsa raised her head above the cushions.

"It would appear so," said another familiar voice, and in walked the King and the royal family's most trusted servant, Kai.

"How are you feeling?" asked Henrik.

"Tired, but well-rested", Elsa smiled back.

"Your Majesty, pardon the interruption, but the physician insisted on performing a physical examination to ensure your wellness." Kai stepped aside to reveal an older man at the door.

"Your Majesty, Physician Simone Wellingdon at your service." The physician bowed low. "Your health is of the utmost importance, this simply couldn't wait."

The Queen focused her eyes upon the petite man.

"Never mind me, what about Thomas? Is he well?"

"Ah, yes, I'd examined him yesterday. A beacon of good health, I assure you." The physician began polishing his spectacles.

"Wait, yesterday?" Elsa considered the man's words. "Henrik, how long was I asleep for?"

"It is now midnight of the next day, love," said the King, gesturing to the small grandfather clock on the wall. As if the accentuate the fact, the faraway Church bells tolled twelve times.

At this, Elsa was no longer so calm.

"I've been asleep for the whole day?!" Her hands flew to her hair. "Oh, I'm so behind! I've missed my meeting with the Duchess of Withertine, and there's still the matter of those trade documents for Corona that need done!"

This was accompanied by a noticeable drop in temperature, and frost began to creep up the walls.

Suddenly, a hand had taken the Queen's.

"Elsa, calm. Everything has been taken care of. I'm more than capable of running the Kingdom for a day you know," Henrik soothed. "You work yourself far too hard as it is, and you've the most legitimate reason any woman could possibly have for taking some time off."

"Ahem, speaking of which..."

All heads turned to the physician.

"I should probably get Her Majesty's physical examination underway." The man donned his spectacles, motioning for the door to be closed.

A short ten minutes later, the Queen was dressed in a clean silken nightgown and was situated back in her bed. The physician opened the bedchamber door, handing Elsa's old clothes in a bundle to Kai.

"Take these to be laundered."

The aged servant bowed and left the bedchamber.

"So, doctor, what is the verdict?" asked Henrik, concern showing on his face.

"Her Majesty is making a quick recovery from her recent childbirth."

The physician folded his spectacles and placed them in his breast pocket. "All seems to be in good order… well, excepting the, ah, usual anomalies."

"Excuse me?" Elsa narrowed her eyes slightly.

The older man cleared his throat.

"Ah, body temperature, Majesty?" It was more of a question than a statement.

Elsa frowned, remembering times in a darker past when she had been under the scrutiny of so many other physicians. The Snow Queen exhaled.

"Very well, you are dismissed."

The physician bowed respectfully and took his leave.

Elsa slumped back into the bed, sharing a weary smile with Henrik. As the King's fingers entwined with her own, her eyelids drew shut despite her best efforts.

Alas, there was little family time to be had the next day. As was tradition for a royal birth, an official proclamation was scheduled—a chance for the people of Arendelle to catch a glimpse of the heir to the crown and throne.

Indeed, the day was truly a busy one. Invitations were sent to all four corners of the Kingdom of Arendelle, the courtyard readied for the arrival of the people. The Queen, with no small measure of guilt, left her son in the care of the maids and her sister for most of the day.

"Aren't we lucky to still have a few nursemaids around?" Anna asked happily.

The sigh slipped between Elsa's lips on its own accord. "Anna, I'd hired a new group a month ago! Did you seriously think I was unprepared?"

Due to the Open Gates policy, the courtyard was packed hours before the great reveal. The citizens were all very excited, gossiping about the new addition to the royal family, and the possibilities he provided for the future of the kingdom.

Minutes from the proclamation, the royal family stood ready behind the closed doors of the balcony. Henrik cradled the little prince in his arms, unable to resist tickling the boy under his chin every once in a while. Elsa stood at her husband's side, back ramrod straight, both hands clasped regally before her. Anna and Kristoff were behind them, their two children running gleefully about the room, chasing the snowflakes falling from a cloud above the head of a very lively snowman. Kai was also present, ready to announce the royals as they stepped out onto the balcony. Outside, two royal trumpets flanked the closed doors.

Alas, even after seven years of the people's acceptance, the Queen still was not as at ease about public events as she wished to be. It was at moments such as these that the scared little girl threatened to resurface; the part of Elsa that wanted to run back to her room, lock the door, and shut out the world.

"Conceal, don't feel," she muttered under her breath.

A hand came to rest upon her shoulder.

"No, Elsa," Anna's calm eyes locked with her sister's. She slid her hand down Elsa's arm, grabbing hold of the Queen's hand with her own.

"Never again."

Elsa gave her sister a grateful smile.

The Church bells tolled. Everyone snapped to attention, taking their positions as the trumpets blew a grand fanfare. Kai opened the doors. Walking out onto the balcony, the servant began announcing the royal family in its entirety.

"Presenting Her Majesty the Queen Regnant, Elsa of Arendelle!"

Elsa took a deep breath and walked forward, forcing herself to take smooth, reserved steps, looking every inch the sovereign she was.

"Princess Anna of Arendelle!"

Anna bounced forward with much less restraint, a wide grin practically shining from her features.

"Prince-Consort Kristoff Bjorgman!"

With a sheepish smile on his face, Kristoff stepped up to join his wife.
"Prince Christopher Bjorgman and Princess Annabeth Bjorgman!"

The children bounced onto the balcony, Olaf in tow.

"King-Consort Henrik Ingouf of Arendelle! And last, but certainly not least, Crown Prince Thomas of Arendelle!"

The King stepped onto the balcony, cradling the newborn heir. This time, the trumpets were accompanied by the cheers and applause of the audience.

When the crowd had settled down, the King stepped forward and began his spiel.

"People of Arendelle! We are gathered here today for a truly momentous occasion! The Queen has born a child! Behold, the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Thomas of Arendelle!"

Henrik passed Thomas gingerly to Elsa, who cradled the baby before the balcony. The little prince looked mutely upon the cheering crowd, dumbfounded by the noise of it all. With a stamp of Elsa's foot, glittering flurries of snow fell upon the courtyard. Annabeth and Christopher jumped about, giggling as they caught snowflakes on their hands and tongues. Anna and Kristoff shared an excited smile.

Unbeknownst to all, a single snowflake fluttered from Thomas' open palm.

Hello readers! Thanks for stopping by! I started writing this back when I was in high school and have since returned to finish it after multiple years of it collecting dust (largely thanks to Frozen II). Reviews are welcome and very appreciated, as always.

Anyway, here's a few things to keep in mind.

What's canon?

Only the events of Frozen are canon in The Ice Within's timeline (although you can include Frozen Fever and Olaf's Frozen Adventure if you prefer). The events of Tangled are also canon and occur in the same world as Frozen. Frozen II is not canon as it breaks most of the storyline I have set up in terms of Elsa's reign as queen and eventual marriage. However, you may find some interesting tie-ins to the Frozen II storyline later down the road...

Where did the rest of the story go?

If anyone's still reading this from its first version from 2014, I've cut a significant amount of the content in an effort to streamline the story so it gets to the important stuff more quickly.

I would highly recommend re-reading the story if you're coming back from before my four-year hiatus because I've changed the most recent events rather substantially, including the role of a certain Prince of the Southern Isles.