DISC: I DO NOT own any of the characters from Elena of Avalor. They belong to Craig Gerber. I do however own anyone you don't recognize as well as the idea for this story.
Enjoy!

"The Long Hall"

Chapter 1

The sun streamed down on the kingdom of Avalor, bathing it in golden rays and warmth.

Naomi grinned as she walked up to the palace. Waving to Gabe, the harbormaster's daughter went inside. Ascending the stairs, she knocked on Elena's bedroom door.

"Come in, Naomi!" Elena called out from inside.

Naomi did so. Smiling when she caught sight of her girlfriend of the last two years, she felt her heart swell. Her smile turned into a confused frown when she spotted all the stuff strewn across Elena's bed. "What's all this?" Naomi gestured to the odds and ends in two piles.

Elena sighed.

"I couldn't decide what to bring," she admitted.

"I can help you with that," the teen offered. Taking a hold of the bag in the middle of the bed, she set it down within reach. Picking up Elena's purple water bottle, she slid it into a side pocket. Glancing around, she put one of the five extra outfits her girlfriend had spread around her bed into the bag. Pulling a folded purple blanket from the end of the bed, Naomi set it in. Smiling in triumph, she closed the bag. Spotting two towels, the harbor master's daughter reopened the bag and slid them in. Zipping it back up, she handed the bag to the future queen. "There you go."

"Gracias, miel. You're the best," leaning down, Elena captured Naomi's lips in a kiss. Pulling away, she hoisted the bag onto her right shoulder. Leading the way out of the room, Naomi followed her.

"So where are we going?" she asked, hoisting her own cyan bag higher up on her shoulder.

"It's a surprise," her girlfriend replied.

They had just gotten to the door when Luisa stopped them. Addressing Elena, she asked, "Mija, do you and Naomi have everything you need?"

Elena nodded.

"We'll be fine, abuela. We have extra water and you made us a delicioso lunch. We'll see you when we get back," leaning down, she kissed her abuela on the cheek.

Luisa returned her nietta's affection. Holding her free arm out, she embraced Naomi as well.

Naomi grinned. She loved being part of this family.

"Have an ice time, girls," Luisa pulled away a minute later.

"We will," Elena assured her.

"See you when we get back," Naomi chimed in. With that, she turned to follow her girlfriend out of the palace.

"It's so beautiful here," Naomi commented, glancing around their surroundings. Flowers stretched in every direction, while trees grew on either side. "I could get used to taking hikes up…here," she finished as dizziness suddenly engulfed the seventeen-year-old. Putting a hand to her head, she squeezed her eyes shut.

"Naomi!" Elena was at her girlfriend's side in a flash. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah…I guess I didn't eat enough for breakfast this morning," Naomi answered as Elena helped steady her.

Elena frowned. Reaching out, she pressed the back of her right hand to the harbor master daughter's forehead.

"You don't have a fever," she mused.

Naomi sighed.

"Sweetie, I appreciate your concern, but I'll be fine. I just need to eat lunch," she assured her.

Elena nodded, even though she wasn't convinced.

"We can stop here," Elena took her bag off of her back.

Naomi shook her head.

"Elena, we don't have to stop. How much further do we have to walk anyway?"

"Ten minutes," Elena reluctantly answered.

"I'll be fine," Naomi rested a hand on her girlfriend's shoulder.

"Okay. Let me know if you need to stop," Elena instructed kindly.

"I will," Naomi told her. With that, they continued their trek.

Fifteen minutes later, due to Elena insisting they stop after Naomi had another dizzy spell, they reached their destination.

"Wow!" Naomi's eyes widened in recognition.

"Do you remember it?" Elena smiled from ear to ear as she started setting out the picnic on the blanket Naomi had put in her bag.

"Yes. Gracias for picking this spot," Naomi kissed Elena on the cheek before pitching in the setting up process.

"I thought it could be our special place. You were the first person I brought up here after all," Elena grinned at her.

"I'd like that," Naomi smiled back, her heart melting a little, "I'd really like that."

Once everything was set up, the two girls sat down to eat and enjoy each other's company.

"These are good!" Naomi complimented as she swallowed the last bite of a second tamale.

"I asked abuela to make them special since I know how much you like them," Elena grinned. "How do you feel now?"

"Better," Naomi honestly replied. It was true. She felt reenergized and the dizziness hadn't returned.

"I'm glad," Elena glanced around as she finished her sandwich.

"Did Isabel finish the family tree project?" Naomi asked.

"Yeah. I helped her," Elena revealed. "She was upset when she got it, but I calmed her down and showed her how much fun it could be. It was painful for both of us at times, but mostly we had a good time. There were some things I didn't even know about our Familia."

"Like what? If you don't mind me asking," Naomi added. Reaching for a piece of fruit, she winced as pain suddenly shot through her stomach. Figuring she had eaten that last tamale too quickly, she took it slowly with the apple.

Elena didn't miss a beat.

"Are you sure you're okay, miel?"

"Yeah. I think I ate too quickly," Naomi dismissed. She flashed her girlfriend a reassuring look as she finished her snack.

Elena nodded, even though she felt uneasy.

"So we found out that Papa's brother, Richardo, got thrown out of Avalor. I'm not sure why."

"Wow! He must have done something really bad. I'll bet it was hard for your father to banish his own flesh and blood," Naomi shook her head.

Elena nodded. She couldn't imagine Isabel doing anything that warranted that severe of a punishment. She had trouble sending her to her room at first when she did something really bad. She couldn't think of banishing her.

"Elena? Elena…" Naomi called, waving her hand in front of the young adult's face.

"Huh? Sorry, Naomi," Elena shook herself out of her thoughts.

"You zoned out on me for a few minutes there," the teen informed her.

"I was just thinking," the future queen admitted.

"Care to share?" Naomi asked.

"Not really," Elena decided.

"Okay," Naomi shrugged. Glancing up, she caught sight of the lake. "Do you wanna go swimming?"

"Are you sure you should with how you've been feeling?" Elena frowned.

"I'm fine," Naomi insisted. With that, she took off her top and shorts, revealing a two piece cyan suit with different colored flowers on it.

Elena blushed as she stared at Naomi's curves.

Naomi caught her looking and grinned slyly.

"See something you like, Su mahestad?" Naomi teased.

Elena laughed while standing. Checking to make sure nobody else was in the vicinity, she stripped down as well. Unlike her girlfriend, she was wearing a purple one piece bathing suit.

"Race ya!" Naomi dashed off towards the lake. Getting there, she stopped as a stab of pain made its way around her stomach. Straightening up just as Elena joined her, she grinned a little. Jumping in the water, she swam around a little while waiting for her girlfriend to join her. "Are you coming in or what?"

"Yeah," Elena replied. Sitting down on the edge of the water, she was about to dive in when a hand reached out and pulled her in. Surfacing, Elena playfully glared at Naomi, who was now giggling. "ooh! You'll pay for that!"

"You gotta catch me first!" with that, Naomi took off.

Elena marveled at her girlfriend's speed in the water. She really was at home here. Taking a deep breath, she dove, swimming after her.

The two spent the next hour swimming and playing around in the water. They talked while admiring the beautiful forest. Getting out of the lake almost two hours later, both girls dried off and changed. Naomi did Elena's hair at her request.

Lying back on an extra blanket, Elena gently pulled Naomi down with her.

"This is nice," Naomi closed her eyes contentedly while lying her head on Elena's chest. She grinned as her girlfriend started playing with her hair.

"It is," Elena agreed.

"I wish we could stay here all day," Naomi mumbled, feeling comfortable and safe as Elena's arms wrapped around her.

"Me too," Elena kissed Naomi's right cheek, "but we have to go back. We have a grand council meeting tomorrow morning."

Naomi groaned.

"If only Esteban could have stayed in Cordova for another week."

Elena laughed.

"Hopefully, he'll keep his opinions about us to himself."

Naomi laughed in disbelief. The action sent pain rippling around her stomach. She tried to hide it from Elena, but the love of her life was faster.

"Naomi, que estas mal?" she asked.

"My stomach started hurting all of a sudden," the seventeen-year-old admitted.

Elena nodded.

"Let's pack up and go back so you can lie down."

Naomi shook her head.

"Elena, we don't have to go. I'll be fine. Besides, I'm comfortable. Can't we just lie here for a little while? Pore favor?"

Elena sighed.

"Fine. We can stay a little longer, but then we're going back to the palace. You need real rest."

Naomi nodded in agreement. Closing her eyes, she soon fell asleep in the second safest place she knew…