Work Text:
The spirit of Christmas remained evident in the Kingdom of Arendelle. Elsa made certain no snowstorms fell upon her birthplace, even from the Enchanted Forest, only lovely light snowfall.
This would be the first Christmas of Queen Anna's reign. It was also her first Christmas with her adopted son, Carolus. She'd been working hard for weeks to improve her son's self-confidence.
Her son, like his aunt, held an elemental power. His element was fire, both a blessing and curse to him. Like Elsa's capabilities originally were to her. However, Anna refused to make the same mistakes as her parents.
Anna hadn't isolated her son. Instead, she'd motivated him, providing an abundance of positive reinforcement. She'd even supported him in starting small in handling his abilities. They'd been simple things, such as lighting the fireplaces or stoves in the palace. Gradually building his confidence, and she hoped he'd continue to progress.
Currently, the mother and son were in the kitchens. They're baking traditional julekake or Christmas bread. It is a yeast cake with butter and sugar, spiced with cardamon, candied fruits, raisins, and almonds. The cake is made by mixing sugar with lukewarm scalded milk, salt, and cardamom, then adding the yeast to the mixture, followed by the oats, butter, and egg.
After the flour is folded with the dried and candied fruits, the bread is kneaded and brushed with butter, then set aside to rise. There are two rises. It can be eaten warm or toasted and served with butter. "Okay, Carolus, ready to add the candied fruit?" she'd finished mixing the dough.
"Yes, Mom!" as he scampered over with the bag. Anna had to grin, seeing pleasure in her son's crimson eyes. He looked entirely different from when she'd brought him home.
Carolus looked considerably healthier. There was a bounce in his step, and his vivid red locks were now thick and lustrous. He smiled much more these days. He still wasn't ready to remove his gloves, but she knew she'd work gradually on this. He carefully added the candied fruit before she handed him the bowl. He carefully mixed them in. "Okay, now it's time we kneaded the bread before letting it bake.
"Doesn't the bread need to be baked? Why did you say need the bread if you've not baked it yet?" pipped up Olaf. Again, Anna couldn't help laughing as the snowman didn't comprehend homophones.
"Not n-e-e-d, Olaf, k-n-e-a-d-e-d, kneaded. In cooking, kneading is making bread or dough, used to mix the ingredients and add strength to the final product," as she showed them how to knead the bread.
The two of them giggled, having a fun time. Finally, they placed the bread in the oven to bake. "Now, the kitchen staff will come to get us when its done. It would be best if you had a bath right now, Carolus. And that's n-e-e-d, this time, Olaf," Anna quickly explained before the stupefied snowman could ask.
The kitchen maid nodded while the sovereign led her son to get his bath. Of course, Olaf wanted a bath too. But, given the magic nature of the snowman, he'd never liquefy.
So, Anna allowed the boys to have a quick bath together. She'd told them she'd return to collect them in twenty minutes. She then proceeded to her bedroom and locked the door before pulling a small box from under the bed. Again, making sure the door remained locked, she peeked inside. Smiling at whatever was in the box before quickly concealing it again and then leaving to return to collect her son.
Carolus had successfully warmed the bathwater, which Olaf congratulated him on. Anna couldn't help but smile again. "Okay, let's not have you two become prunes," she called out.
After a few moments, both came out squeaky clean. Then, giggling, she took her son's hand before they headed out into the village. The kingdom was collecting enough timber for a bonfire.
Everyone greeted the monarch and her heir merrily. Anna hoped her son could handle all the attention. But, given his bullying at the orphanage, he still got anxious about social interaction.
His mother remained determined her son's childhood wouldn't be the friendless one she endured. She desired him to be able to laugh, play, and relish the sun. Have friends and be content. Then, noticing a few youngsters decorating the village's Christmas tree, she gently nudged him. "Go on, Carolus," he clutched her skirt in fear.
"It's okay, son. They're just decorating the tree. Nothing bad is going to happen. So go on," and swallowing hard, he strolled over.
"Hi, mind if I join you?" he asked timidly.
"Sure, you can help!" a five-year-old lass with a dark red braid answered. She handed him occasional ornaments to hang. Gradually, the young boy started to feel comfortable. The children didn't say or do anything to frighten him, simply talking about ordinary childish things. Like what presents they get, how many goodies they will receive, and building snowmen.
Eventually, Anna called for her son. Carolus smiled while waving goodbye cheerfully to the children. He then took his mother's hand as they headed home. "So, how did it go? Make any friends?"
"I don't know if we're friends or not. Yet they didn't like ridicule or seem afraid of me," he replied unsurely.
"See? You'll have genuine friends in no time, son. But remember, everyone needs help fitting in. All children are slightly skittish when interacting with others the first time."
"Well, they didn't seem like any kids back at the orphanage. However, will they turn on me if my abilities come out?"
"People need to accept people for who they are. Not who we wish them to be. There is no genuine normal, son. It's different for everyone, whatever they consider normal. Be yourself. That's all you need to be. Now, let's see how the julekake came out, shall we?"
"Yes, I'm starving!" again, his mother giggled. It turned out the bread came out perfectly. However, they could only have a little, seeing how the rest was for Christmas Day, three days away.
Anna remained slightly apprehensive that Elsa was coming home for Christmas. Her sister still unintentionally frightened her son. However, he'd gotten a little more comfortable around her. Nevertheless, he remained a bit skittish.
Anna had requested her sister to come when Carolus was sleeping so he'd not get startled by her. Elsa complied, arriving when her nephew was sound asleep. Embracing her sister tightly, "Hello, Anna. How are things going with Carolus? Any improvement?" she questioned anxiously.
Nodding, "He's a bit more confident. He even managed to help decorate the village Christmas tree with a few children without any difficulties. I hope he gains enough self-confidence to remove his gloves before long."
"It took me thirteen years to take off mine. So give him a little slack, Anna."
Sighing, "I know it's primarily a mental issue. But, on the other hand, I don't want him to isolate himself from the world.
No offense, Elsa, but if you hadn't shut out the world? It wouldn't have been the catalyst for most of our hardships. I don't wish to condemn my son to such a fate. I want him to have a better childhood than we had." Elsa nodded, reassuming, hugging her little sister tightly, "I'm confident he'll have a much better childhood than either of us. Give it a bit more time."
Finally, Christmas Day arrived, and the royal family gathered around their tree. Everyone merrily exchanged gifts, with Anna saving her present for last. Then, seeing her son glancing nervously around for his present, she spoke. "Carolus?"
"Yes, Mom?"
"I'm so delighted this is our first Christmas together. I wanted to give you something special," she handed the gift. He gradually opened it, surprised to see a peculiar box.
"It's a lockbox," his mother explained, "All your secrets and personal items go inside. No one other than you can open it, as you alone have the key. Our mother gave us each one before the accident. So now I will give you the one I made for you. First, however, there is one thing I want you to remove from the box."
"What?"
"Open it, and you'll see," handing him the key. Gradually, he unlocked it and then removed a rolled-up scroll. He then unrolled it and cried. It was a family portrait of all of them. His crimson eyes filled with tears, "You're truly part of this family, Carolus, and every morning, you'll wake up to this portrait to prove it." he quickly got up and hugged her tightly.
"You're welcome, son."
Later that evening, Elsa treated everyone to her ice skating rink while Carolus started the bonfire. It was a perfect Christmas, for sure.