The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV] by Robbie Collins

the place that she longed desired, “No. I cannot seem to tire of you. This is the feeling I meant."
    But The Healer could no longer hear her, as she moaned in pleasure and need of her wonderfully strong lover.
    After a much-needed quiet eve, The High Queen opened her mind to The Realm, wondering where she was. She sensed Sle'nel’ next to her, and was pleased. She sighed, then moved slightly into her.
    "You are awake."
    The High Queen opened her eyes, “My Desire."
    Sle'nel’ moved on top of her, kissing her softly, touching her arms, “In truth, who are you, San'lr'in'?"
    She examined Sle'nel's thoughts lightly. As she caressed Sle'nel's shoulder, she sensed her frustration and answered her question, “I am High Queen. Is that not more than enough?"
    "You are more than High Queen. No one has such command over life and death as this. This is beyond the Deep Mystics’ powers. Who are you, in truth, and why is such hidden from The Realm?"
    "Am I not a woman as any other?"
    Sle'nel’ sat up, straddling San'lr'in', and looked down at her, “If so, then tell me it is so. Look at me and tell me that you are as any other woman."
    "As Sele'm'tinel'ti'non'n is the same as any other, then as am I."
    Sle'nel’ thought on the statement for a moment, “Is Sele’ of my background, in part?"
    "Yes. This is truth. You are her Birth-Mother in all ways. She is, in part, Elfin background."
    "Is she of Sam's line in the other part?"
    "She is partly of the line."
    "Directly?"
    She hesitated, then said, “No."
    Sle'nel’ looked shocked, “No? Sam is her mother, is she not?"
    "In that you and Sam were joined in companionship, yes."
    "Who is her mother, in truth?” She saw that The High Queen wasn't going to answer her, “I know not who I am. I know not who my Birth-daughter is. And I know not who my lover is. In truth, High Queen, what is it that I do know?” She lay back down onto her Queen and looked directly at her, “Who are you? Who is my Birth-daughter? Who is this First High Queen to you?"
    "It is overly complicated. Even I refuse to accept what is so. Even I back away from this. I wish not to acknowledge these truths. I wish not to know who I am, Elf. It is overly difficult. I just wish to be as any other.” She looked and felt sad, knowing she was disappointing her Elf. She spoke very softly, “In truth, I wish only to be with you, in your arms."
    The High Queen had spoken her truth, and Sle'nel’ saw it as so. Yet unsatisfied, she knew that this lack of knowledge that so frustrated her, frustrated her lover even more in the knowing of it. She nodded her acceptance, lying back onto their bed. She thought about it for a moment, then moved back onto her Queen, kissing her, “I know one thing, my Queen."
    San'lr'in’ smiled at her, “And what is this that you know so well, Elf?"
    Sle'nel’ kissed her fully, causing The High Queen to desire her. San'lr'in’ placed her hand softly on the back of Sle'nel's head, bringing her more closely and tightly to her, “This you know well, My Elf. Very well."
    The attendants were finally allowed in to prepare The High Queen. They informed her that Ann'wn and her Healer had requested an audience with her. Both she and Sle'nel’ noticed the attendants’ giggles.
    As they entered, The Healer bowed her head, “Good morn, High One."
    Ann'wn knelt and bowed her head, “Highness. Thank you for seeing us."
    The High Queen noticed that her attendants giggled once more, and saw that they were casting quick glances toward The Healer and to her Force Leader. She sensed their thoughts for a moment, then reached into the Healer and Ann'wn's thoughts. She smiled, but turned away from them so they didn't see her do so. Sle'nel’ watched her Queen, guessing as to what she now knew.
    The High Queen turned to her attendants, “Thank you. You have My leave.” She then looked at her Healer, then Ann'wn, and saw that both were trying to appear as normal, “Force Leader. You requested My