DISCLAIMER: The only characters I own are the OCs. Everything else belongs to Christopher Paolini.

Thank You. (Yes, the title is a Beatles song)

It was morning. A crescent moon was sinking into the horizon. The forest of Du Weldenvarden stood tall and ominous under the sky; all of it's inhabitants were still fast asleep. That is, all except two.

Queen Islanzadi lay half awake, her bedsheets draped lazily over her and another elf's naked forms. The second elf's head was laid against Islanzadi's shoulder, their silver hair splayed against the pillow, and Islanzadi's arm and chest.

The Elf Queen gave a contented sigh and she brushed a strand of her lover's hair out of their face. Their eyelids twitched for a moment before opening. Islanzadi smiled as her deep brown eyes met her lover's icy blue ones.

"Good morning, Lyra, my love," she purred in her rich vibrato.

Lyra smiled and curled her arms more tightly around her love's waist.

"Good morning," she returned in a lilting whisper, then yawned and snuggled deeper into the sheets.

Islanzadi's gentle smile widened and she kissed Lyra on the forehead. Then she stretched and swung her legs out of bed. A soft breeze was blowing in from the open window, bringing in a pleasant sent of spring flowers.

Islanzadi strode lazily to the bathroom and turned on the hot water tap. Meanwhile, Lyra dragged herself out of the Elf Queen's bed and started to gather the garments they had dropped last night. She folded Islanzadi's clothes and set them neatly on the bed.

Once the bathtub was filled, Islanzadi lowered herself into the steaming water and gave a satisfied moan. Lyra smiled as she heard the sound escape her lover's lips. She entered the wash closet to see Islanzadi stretched out in the tub.

She laughed quietly and traced a finger over the raven-haired elf's toned abdomen. The queen's slanted eyes watched fervently as Lyra dipped her hand between Islanzadi's powerful thighs. Smiling, Lyra traced patterns along the inside of her lover's leg; sometimes coming close (but not quite touching) the queen's exposed womanhood.

Islanzadi pouted and bucked her hips, but Lyra only shook her head and continued her torturous caresses.

The Queen was just on the edge of begging when they heard the door open. Lyra froze and pulled her pulled her hand from the tub. Then they heard a tray of food being set down and then the door closing again. Islanzadi sighed sadly.

"You better leave before Arya comes," she whispered. Unhappily, Lyra nodded and quickly dressed. She gave her lover a quick kiss and crept silently from the queen's rooms. Making sure no one was in the hall, Lyra snuck out and quickly closed the door. Islanzadi sighed.

She despised not being able to be with Lyra. But it was not as though it was something they could be open about. She had never even considered a romantic relationship with someone of the same sex was possible. She had admired a woman's form over that of a man's since she was a child, but she still found it odd to be able to finally have a romantic connection with a woman.

She didn't hate herself - at least, not anymore - for her "unorthodox" desires, but she still feared what the other elves would say.

She climbed out of the bath, dried herself off, tugged the door open, and slammed it. Frustrated, she threw herself down on the bed and sighed.

Islanzadi had fallen in love with Lyra when they were children. She had watched from afar even as Evandar had stolen her heart. And when Evandar died, Islanzadi had grieved and Lyra was always there to comfort her.

Islanzadi had admitted to loving her only two years ago, but she didn't feel any less trapped.

Someday, she thought wearily.

Hey guys!

Okay, backstory! It's Pride Month here in the USA so I thought this would be a fun little story to write in honor of that. The fears Lyra and Islanzadí have in this story are based off of fears that many LGBTQ people (including yours truly) have or had when coming out to their family. So don't be mean.

Since the peoples of Alegasia seem to follow a very "traditional" (you know man/woman) marriage path, I thought it would be interesting to mix it up a bit.

I wrote this chapter to stand alone, but I will continue it if ya'll give me feedback.

Love to hear your opinions.