Disclaimer: Twilight and its inclusive material is copyright to Stephenie Meyer. Original creation, including but not limited to plot and characters, is copyright to the respective authors of each story. No copyright infringement is intended.

AN: This O/S was submitted as part of A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Summer Blowout (Mini) Edition, and was Judge 2Brown-eyes pick. I am uncertain at this time if I'll ever write a full story around it.

Dance of the Flames

The mass of elves danced around the summer ritual fire in a larges circle with a single couple nearer to the flames.

When she'd been a child, Isabella had dreamt of her day dancing to the flames. The mating rituals that were only allowed during the warmest season – with the rich fruit wines, feasts of succulent apples, oranges, and roasts of boar, and open acts of passion – had been an honor every child dreamt of.

But she'd grown up and now wished she could be anywhere else. Unfortunately, her desires didn't matter, so she spun with the beat of the drums as she raised her arms high.

Across from her, Edward matched her moves. Unlike her, he was more than happy to get the chance to mate a woman.

The elders had decreed for them to mate, and though Isabella understood her duty to their people, the other half of her soul danced in the outer circle.

And if her true mate had been a man, the elders would have allowed the mating, but female pairings were strictly forbidden and punishable by execution.

Similarly, if the other half of her soul and she had both been male, they'd have allowed it as there were a dozen male elves for every one female. Male pairings were accepted and even expected by the elders.

But perhaps the real irony was if Edward ever found the other half of his soul, he'd be allowed to mate that elf as well – be the elf a male or a female – yet she'd still be mated to him.

She would never be with her other half.

Isabella's eyes caught Alice's briefly before she closed her eyes and raised her face to the sky, allowing the tears to run freely as she continued to dance, knowing exactly what she was giving up with this dance of the flames.