This is dedicated to all of those who took the time and effort to review Afterglow over the years…
Chapter One- The Bonding
The sun was just beginning to reach the horizon and had yet to chase away the night's chill. Amanda stood on the balcony overlooking the desert beyond. She was standing just outside the bedroom that she rarely used, one that she looked at as hers in name only. It would not have been proper to be met in the room that that she and Sarek actually shared. A gentle wind sent the chimes that hung along the eaves softly stirring and ruffled the light shift she was wearing. She pulled her shawl closer around her with one hand and with the other hand she fingered the tiny Tahy that Jey Du Hey had given her on Ajart. It had become a talisman for her over the last few weeks, a repository for all of her hopes and wishes.
"It is time, Amanda Grayson."
Amanda turned and nodded as T'Plilar entered the room and picked up the bag that Amanda had packed the night before. Abandoning the shawl, the young Earth woman lifted up the light cape that laid draped over the bed and and fastened it about her shoulders. She took a deep breath as she left the bedroom, giving it one last look and wondering if everything would have changed when she returned. Today, she was taking the next step in her life, one that held unknown consequences. If they were successful, she would be both wife and bondsmate by day's end.
They took an aircar, soaring up into the cloudless heights above ShiKahr, the sheer obsidian walls of the Llangon towering before them like a shield of impenetrability, as hard and unforgiving as much of Vulcan seemed to be. The aircar wove through the peaks and ridges before finally landing high above the city in front of a large gateway hidden among the rocky outcroppings. It took a few moments for Amanda to make out the building that appeared behind the ornate gates; it seemed hidden, camouflaged within the folds of rock, its walls effectively mimicking the surrounding landscape. Stepping out of the aircar, she felt dwarfed by what was now revealed to her as a massive structure, and an involuntary chill ran through her. The place gave off an air of antiquity, a time when a keep would be needed to protect against warring factions and hostile tribes.
"This is Hav'Duc'et Norem, the seat of my great grandfather's family," T'Plilar answered the unasked question, "Come. There is much to be done and they will be waiting for you."
Once, while in school in Geneva, Amanda's class had taken a trip to Barcelona to view the architecture of Gaudi. This ancient keep reminded her of that, with its adherence to the natural flow of the landscape. It was as if the mountain itself had morphed into a fortress, with its carved walls of rock following the natural contours of the mountain, complimented by mortar, tile, and brick. Amanda could not imagine the sheer power it must have taken to build this eyrie high above the city. As they entered the courtyard she was amazed at the variety of abundant life that called its crannies and nooks home, both above and below her feet. The air was filled with tiny copper and gold plumed birds and the plantings rustled with small ferret-like creatures, their fur spotted and speckled in patterns that blended in to the foliage. A central fountain, fed by a spring deep within the mountain was a source of nourishment for the assortment of living things that found the arid land below too inhospitable, all free from the harshness of the desert heat and all of them new to her eyes.
They climbed the wide stairway that led up to the structure, one made of the same obsidian material as the mountain, only veined with traces of gold and copper. Immense entrance doors were covered with hammered copper and etched with reliefs of what she assumed were epic battles. Amanda let her hands linger on them for a few brief moment, before T'Plilar's hand effortlessly pivoted the doors inward.
Entering the main hall was like entering a cathedral, a sudden hush fell. The noises of life that the courtyard promised were gone, replaced only by the tap of their feet against the elaborate mosaics that spun across the floor. The air itself seemed heavy with history. Huge tapestries hung from the walls on either side of an inner grand staircase, a staircase the equal to the one they had entered. Amanda tried to make out the subject matter of the weavings but the dim morning light shadowed their contents in mystery, the only illumination coming from a large stained glass transom which lay swatches of color down in a narrow section of the floor.
T'Plilar led the way along side the staircase and down a hall to a small room. Entering Amanda took a deep breath. The room was fairly sparse except for a few pieces of furniture, but there were more elaborate murals along the walls and on the ceiling. Across one of the lone pieces of furniture, a chaise, was draped an intricate, sleeveless ceremonial robe. She picked up the hem, weighing the heavy embroidery in her hand, admiring the fine hand-work that created it.
"This is beautiful, but I don't know that I could wear it."
"Many generations of the females our family have worn these robes to bondings, both Xcha'ala'at and Cha'al'at. There are others here that can assist in the task of getting it to fit," Her husband's niece move to an almost invisible comm unit along the wall and gave a brief call. Within seconds, two women came quickly into the room.
Amanda's cape was swiftly flung aside and they set to remaking her, attempting to hide all but the barest hint that there would be only a small, young Earth woman hidden inside the elaborate shell of fabric and jewels. First they slipped a simple dress of copper colored crystal pleated chiffon over the light slip she still wore. It was far too long and after some consultation, the best solution seemed to be a makeshift sash which pulled up the skirt to a reasonable length and blousoned the top. Over that they lay the heavy coat, with flared shoulders, decorated with embroidery and encrusted with precious and semi-precious gems. It was open at the bottom, allowing her to walk, but her lack of height resulted in an unintentional train. Unlike the dress, there was no way to shorten the elaborate coat, it would have to do. Finally, her braided hair was pinned up in intricate fashion, a headpiece placed upon it and she slipped into a pair of brocaded open-backed slippers.
T'Pliliar whispered as she slipped a small translator into Amanda's hand, "You will also need this."
The other women finished up tweaking and pulling her here and there until she fit into some idea of acceptability. They then stood back taking at their creation. Speaking among themselves they seemed to approve of their handiwork, though they spoke far too quickly for Amanda to understand much of a language she was barely starting to grasp. Never the less, she had the distinct opinion that they felt that they had done all that they could. She was never going to to be the tall, Vulcan woman the ceremonial dress was meant for.
Discreetly as possible she inserted the translator into her ear, carefully adjusting it, allowing her to follow their next instruction.
"We must go. Follow us. It will not be far."
Then they were back to the courtyard making their way over to an elaborate archway on the far side. T'Pliliar had disappeared. Amanda opened the massive door as instructed with a light touch of her hand as it pivoted outward. Beyond a short walkway, a circle of menhirs stood, within which a small party awaited.
Sarek stood in the center of the circle. Her husband was dressed in a robe heavily emblazoned with intricate glyphs, the neckpiece around his neck heavy with cabochons of ruby, garnet, and a gemstone that resembled amber. He was accompanied by a young priestess dressed in layers of sheer golden gauze, a crystal diadem on her crown, loose hair flowing below her waist. To Amanda, the woman appeared to be her own age, but she knew that in all probability she was possibly decades older.
She recognized Sarek's mother, T'Pazia, tall and imposing with great shocks of gray at the temple and running though the elaborate braids that piled upon her head, those same braids interlaced with combs that glittered with cabochons of emerald and topaz. A younger version, of her mother, T'Prala, stood along with the lone additional male member of the party, who Amanda assumed was T'Prala's husband. T'Piliar stood alongside them, now magically transformed in a few moments from an ordinary girl to one of these mystical creatures.
Amanda nervously fiddled with the translator. Did she really have anyplace among these impressive beings? She had just started to feel more comfortable here on Vulcan, and now, was she kidding herself that she would ever fit in?
The young priestess took her aside and softly spoke to her, "I am T'Sunu, priestess sent from Selaya to attempt to initiate this bond. There is nothing to fear here. I will ask for your response and approval when needed. You have no concerns regarding what is about to transpire?"
"No," She set her jaw firmly in resolution. This was what both she and Sarek wanted and needed.
"Then we begin."
In a beat, the young woman seemed to have disappeared and the priestess within had made herself known, her voice now ringing though the very mountain peaks as she raised her arms in a salute, "As it was in the beginning, as it will be in the end, minds are to be merged so that bodies may follow as well when the time comes upon each of us."
T'Sunu turned to Amanda, "This is the way of our people, this is how we survive, this is how we assure that future generations will follow in our footsteps. You agree Amanda Grayson of Earth to take Xcha'ala'at Sarek, heir to the chair of Seven Winds, son of Skon and T'Pazia, son of Solkar and Na-se-reen, to take to bondsmate, to be one with him in his time of need, never to waiver, never to fail?"
These seemed like such mighty words, and she was just one small, young Earth woman, but still she had only two words that she could ever imagine having to say, "I promise."
"You agree, Sarek of Vulcan, Xcha'ala'at and heir to the chair of Seven Winds, son of Skon and T'Pazia, son of Solkar and Na-se-reen, to take Amanda Grayson of Terra as bondsmate, to honor her diligence and perseverance in your time of need, never to forget or dishonor her commitment to your needs."
"This I promise."
The priestess motioned to Sarek as she raised her hand and held it firmly against his brow. She closed her eyes as her long slender fingers found the necessary contact points. With her free hand, she motioned for Amanda, now holding the other hand against Amanda's brow; it was a singular probe, looking for an anchor, the root of her feelings for Sarek. Amanda felt her mind rise up to greet the touch and felt a tinge of surprise from T'Sunu when the touch met it's source.
On the priestess's nod, Sarek raised his left hand against the other side of Amanda's face. His touch was like a soft caress, completing the circuit between all three parties.
After a few moments, Amanda felt a new probe, like a needle was being threaded through her mind. T'Sunu held the needle, guiding it, as Sarek threaded his thoughts through Amanda's. She felt her own mind reaching out to catch it as it made it's handiwork, grabbing the glints of emotions and memories that lay by the wayside, as she anxiously raced out to meet him.
First the probe traced along the surface, acknowledging the current cluster of feelings that lurked just beyond conscious thought. Then it sought to go deeper, like a net that was being cast and then pulled back in. Spiraling inward, Amanda started to feel as if she were on a carousel, one that started slow, gliding by a succession of memories, first hers, then Sarek's, then their shared memories, spinning ever faster and faster. Miti was a kitten in her arms for a brief moment before she spun around and it was a bear cub? A baby sehlat in her arms. Eechiya? He dropped from her arms and suddenly she was on Ajart, but it was not quite right, she was standing on the balcony to the beach below, but it seemed from a child's view, and the colors were off, so much more intense, holding far more detail then she would ever see with her own eyes. Then just as quickly it spun back to her own memory of the recent past and her own time looking out on that beach, the colors and focus re-adjusted to those she could remember.
Now she saw herself from an impossible angle, being looked down upon with a feeling of what, curiosity? Did her eyes really look so startlingly blue, her hair quite that vivid auburn? Is that how she appeared to his eyes? She felt an affirmation sweep though her thoughts like an errant breeze. Then the memory shifted and she was looking down at a proffered hand, a firefly slowly flickering, calling for a mate, the sibilant sound of Najiir's voice as she heard Sarek's name the first time, the cadence of that lush voice when he first spoke hers.
A rush of emotion when they first made love, so bittersweet that she could taste it, yet she knew her own memory brought nothing but joy. Round and round it went, deeper and deeper, until the images finally slowed, at first barely perceptively, then to a gentle crawl. No longer were her thoughts composed of visions of the past but now only of emotion and energy, met and answered in kind. At last a gentle tug started to pull her back up from the depths that she had travelled, as if someone were slowly withdrawing the needle, but leaving the thread behind, an anchor for a time of need.
T'Sunu pulled out of the link, leaving only Amanda and Sarek together within her wake. They held for a few moments, minds entwined in an impossible embrace, before he slowly started to pull them both back to the conscious world.
Amanda was suddenly aware of the stiff salty streaks that trailed down her cheeks, tears that had quickly dried in the parched air. She suspected that it might be unseemly to the others that congregated to witness the bonding, but to her, they only signified the depth of what she had just experienced and spoke hopefully of the success of the process.
She looked up at Sarek, with eyes that now knew so much more than when they began in that dance that seemed to have taken place over countless years, but was only measured in minutes. His eyes responded back in kind. So many questions she had answered, yet so many more left yet unsaid. And then the world went black.
Author's Note: I always felt that the "talking in the head" version of telepathy unsatisfactory, and imagined what might actually happen would be in terms of shared visuals and feelings - that there would not be a voice saying "I see a fire", but rather that the very image of that fire would be what the recipient would experience. Hopefully, I was able to demonstrate a little bit of what has no words here, using words as best I can….