"A River of Second Chances"

Prompt: In this alternate universe of Disney’s Frozen, the events of the original film’s summer (Elsa’s powers causing an eternal winter, Hans’ betrayal, etc.) never occur. Instead, the story diverges significantly by altering the fate of Queen Iduna and King Agnarr. Iduna, a Northuldra by birth with a deep connection to the mystical river Ahtohallan, chooses to remain in Arendelle with her daughters, Elsa and Anna, rather than join Agnarr on his voyage to uncover the source of Elsa’s ice powers. Her decision is driven by her concern for Elsa’s struggle to control her growing magic, Anna’s emotional isolation, and her own knowledge of Ahtohallan’s dangers, rooted in Northuldra lore. Agnarr, determined to find answers for Elsa, sails alone with a small crew but perishes in a shipwreck in the Dark Sea five years before the story’s main events. Iduna is left a widowed queen, ruling as regent until Elsa, now 21, is ready for her coronation. The narrative unfolds during the timeline of Frozen, with Arendelle isolated, its gates closed to protect Elsa’s secret powers. Iduna, in her early 40s, grapples with grief over Agnarr’s death, guilt for not accompanying him, and the burden of concealing her Northuldra heritage from her daughters. Elsa struggles with her magic and the pressure of her impending coronation, while Anna, 18, feels neglected by her mother’s secrecy and Elsa’s distance. To secure Arendelle’s stability, Iduna travels to the Southern Isles for a diplomatic mission, where she witnesses King Westergaard’s brutal abuse of his youngest son, Hans. Moved by compassion and her own history of sacrifice, Iduna orchestrates Hans’ escape to Arendelle, where she nurses him back to health, fostering a profound platonic bond. The fanfiction explores themes of redemption, forgiveness, trauma, and the transformative power of compassion, set against a backdrop of magic, political intrigue, and family dynamics. Detailed Plot Points 1. Iduna’s Decision to Stay
In this AU, Iduna’s Northuldra heritage gives her an intuitive understanding of Ahtohallan, a river of memory and magic that holds answers but also great peril. When Agnarr proposes sailing to Ahtohallan to uncover the origins of Elsa’s ice powers, Iduna is torn. Her love for Agnarr is deep, but her daughters need her—Elsa, then 16, is terrified of her uncontrollable magic, and Anna, 13, feels increasingly isolated by the family’s secrecy. Iduna’s own past, leaving her Northuldra people to save a young Agnarr during a conflict in the enchanted forest, makes her fear abandoning her family again. She pleads with Agnarr to stay, citing Northuldra tales of the Dark Sea’s wrath, but Agnarr, driven by duty, insists on going alone, promising to return with solutions for Elsa. Iduna relents, haunted by foreboding. When news arrives of Agnarr’s shipwreck, Iduna is shattered, blaming herself for not joining him or stopping him. She becomes regent, raising Elsa and Anna while hiding her Northuldra roots and the truth about Ahtohallan. 2. Life in Arendelle Without Agnarr
Five years later, Arendelle is a kingdom in limbo. Iduna governs with wisdom but is weighed down by grief and secrecy. Elsa, now 21, prepares for her coronation but is plagued by anxiety, her powers growing more volatile without Agnarr’s steadying presence. Iduna tries to guide her, drawing on Northuldra knowledge, but hesitates to reveal her heritage, fearing it will overwhelm Elsa. Anna, 18, mourns her father and craves connection, frustrated by Elsa’s isolation and Iduna’s emotional distance. The castle gates remain closed, fueling rumors among neighboring kingdoms about Arendelle’s weaknesses. Iduna’s love for her daughters is fierce, but her secrets—about Ahtohallan, her past, and Agnarr’s mission—create a rift, especially with Anna, who senses her mother is hiding something. 3. Journey to the Southern Isles
To protect Arendelle as Elsa nears her coronation, Iduna undertakes a diplomatic mission to the Southern Isles, a powerful but volatile kingdom ruled by King Westergaard. Her goal is to negotiate trade agreements and secure alliances to deter aggression from ambitious neighbors. Leaving Elsa in charge and Anna to assist, Iduna travels with her advisor, Kai, and a small retinue. The Southern Isles’ opulent palace hides a tense, cutthroat court. King Westergaard, a cold and authoritarian ruler, controls his 13 sons through fear and competition. Hans, the youngest, is the family’s scapegoat, marginalized and belittled for his perceived failures. Iduna, observant and empathetic, notes the court’s dysfunction and Hans’ quiet defiance beneath his polished exterior. 4. Witnessing King Westergaard’s Cruelty
During a public event showcasing the Southern Isles’ strength, Iduna witnesses a horrifying act. Hans, recently returned from a failed diplomatic mission, is publicly accused by his father of disgracing the kingdom. To punish him, King Westergaard orders Hans to be tarred and feathered before the court and assembled crowd. Stripped to his undershirt, Hans endures the scalding tar and feathers, his face a mix of defiance and shame as the crowd jeers. The brutality shocks Iduna, resonating with her Northuldra values of compassion and her own experiences of loss. She sees in Hans a reflection of Elsa’s fear of being a “monster” and her own guilt over failing Agnarr. Her resolve to act is immediate—she cannot leave Hans to suffer under his father’s cruelty. 5. Smuggling Hans Out of the Southern Isles
Iduna, leveraging her diplomatic status and Northuldra resourcefulness, orchestrates Hans’ escape. She enlists a sympathetic servant, Lila, who disapproves of Westergaard’s cruelty, and her loyal Arendellian guards. Under the guise of a late-night diplomatic discussion, they free Hans from his guarded quarters, where he lies weak from his ordeal. The escape is tense: they navigate the palace’s shadowed corridors and the heavily guarded port, disguising Hans in a cloak. Iduna’s subtle connection to the wind spirit, Gale, summons a storm to mask their ship’s departure. Hans, barely conscious and wracked with pain, is a broken figure, far from the scheming prince of Frozen. Iduna’s determination grows as she vows to give him a chance at redemption. 6. Nursing Hans Back to Health in Arendelle
In Arendelle, Iduna hides Hans in a secluded castle wing to avoid political fallout. His condition is severe: burns and infections from the tar, coupled with emotional trauma, leave him vulnerable. Iduna, drawing on Northuldra healing practices, tends to him personally. In a quiet chamber, she uses warm water, herbal salves, and a soft washcloth to clean his wounds, gently removing tar and feathers. These sponge bath scenes are tender and platonic, with Iduna’s maternal care breaking through Hans’ defenses. He resists at first, ashamed and distrustful, but her persistence and stories of her own sacrifices—leaving her Northuldra home, losing Agnarr—build trust. Iduna becomes a surrogate mother figure, offering the unconditional care Hans never received. Their bond grows, rooted in shared vulnerability. 7. Hans’ Transformation and Iduna’s Influence
As Hans recovers, Iduna helps him confront his past: his 12 brothers’ mockery, his father’s relentless demands, and his own ambition born of desperation for validation. She contrasts Arendelle’s values of love and community with the Southern Isles’ ruthlessness, encouraging Hans to find worth beyond his father’s approval. Iduna shares her Northuldra heritage and guilt over Agnarr’s death, fostering mutual trust. Hans begins to see a path toward redemption, though his darker impulses—foreshadowing his Frozen actions—persist, creating inner conflict. Iduna, too, grapples with her secrecy’s impact on Elsa and Anna, finding purpose in helping Hans as a way to atone for her perceived failures. 8. Tensions in Arendelle and the Path to Frozen
Hans’ presence strains the royal family. Elsa, anxious about her coronation and powers, senses Iduna’s preoccupation and fears the consequences of harboring a fugitive prince. Anna, curious about Hans and resentful of Iduna’s secrecy, seeks him out, unaware of his future betrayal. When Hans’ presence is discovered, it sparks tension: Elsa worries about diplomatic repercussions, while Anna is intrigued by the mysterious prince. Iduna navigates these conflicts, promising her daughters honesty but hesitating to reveal her full past. The story sets up Frozen’s timeline, leaving Hans’ ultimate path ambiguous—Iduna’s influence plants seeds of change, but his ambition remains. Iduna resolves to journey to Ahtohallan to honor Agnarr and help Elsa, possibly with Hans accompanying her to prove his redemption. Themes and Character Arcs • Iduna: Her arc is one of redemption, channeling her guilt over Agnarr’s death and her secrecy into compassion for Hans. Her Northuldra heritage and maternal instincts drive her to heal others, but she must confront the rift her secrets create with Elsa and Anna. • Hans: He evolves from a broken, ambitious prince to someone glimpsing redemption through Iduna’s care. His vulnerability contrasts with his latent scheming nature, leaving his future uncertain. • Elsa and Anna: Elsa’s struggle with her powers is intensified by her mother’s distance and Agnarr’s absence, while Anna’s desire for connection fuels her curiosity about Hans and frustration with Iduna. Their arcs hint at their Frozen journeys. • Ahtohallan and Northuldra Heritage: Iduna’s connection to Ahtohallan and her roots provide a mystical framework, potentially guiding her and Hans toward truth and healing. • King Westergaard’s Cruelty: The Southern Isles’ toxic environment underscores nurture versus nature, shaping Hans’ character and contrasting with Arendelle’s warmth. Tone and Style The story is serious and introspective, with vivid emotional descriptions and a focus on character-driven drama. It uses third-person perspective, past tense, and emphasizes Iduna’s compassion, Hans’ vulnerability, and the political and magical stakes of their world. Write the story strictly adhering to the provided