Opaka traveled often, visiting other monasteries and ministering to the people. When she was at the monastery, she tutored Bareil, discussing the prophecies and interpretations. When she was absent, Vedek Teero and the monks assisted with his studies. He gardened by day and studied by night. Bareil was happy for the first time since he was old enough to remember.
One evening, about seven months after he came to the monastery, Bareil was sitting in the library having a spirited discussion with Prylar Winn.
"The day will come when the Prophets will rain retribution down upon our Cardassian oppressors," Winn said.
Bareil countered, "The Prophets are the embodiment of love. They will free us from our oppressors, but they will do so kindly. They are grieved at what the Cardassians are doing to us, but they do not hate them."
"But Trakor's eleventh prophecy clearly states that the chief of the oppressors will be thrust down into a fiery chasm by one born of the Prophets." Winn said.
"True, but what of Baneth's fifth prophecy? It states that a true follower of the Prophets will make peace with the repentant oppressors," Bareil countered.
In the shadows, the rest of the monastery gathered to watch the show. Vedek Teero nodded approvingly every time Winn made a statement. Prylar Bek nodded when Bareil made his rebuttal. Prylar Rhit appeared neutral and just observed.
They went back and forth for another half hour before Bareil said, "With all due respect, Prylar, I believe we will just have to agree to disagree."
Bareil knew in that moment what he needed to do.
Kai Opaka returned the next day. Bareil said, "I have made my decision. I wish to become a monk."
Opaka smiled and said, "That is wonderful. Have you given any thought to which order you would like to join?"
"Yes. I would like to stay here at this monastery. There is much for me to learn," Bareil said.
Opaka said, "We have never had a monk so young as you, but the Prophets move in mysterious ways. If you feel ready, you may take your vows tonight."
Bareil smiled, "Thank you."
That evening, the residents of the monastery gathered in the orb room. Bareil donned monk's robes for the first time. He stood at the front of the room, next to Kai Opaka.
Opaka began, "Seven months ago, the Prophets guided a humble young man to our monastery. He has studied and learned of them, and now he wishes to join our order."
She turned and addressed Bareil as she said, "Bareil Antos, of Relliketh Province, do you wish to walk with the Prophets for the rest of your life?"
"I do."
"Do you pledge yourself to their service?"
"I do."
"Do you take this obligation freely, without coercion?"
"I do."
Opaka placed her hand on Bareil's ear and said, "Let these present be witnesses. So be it."
Opaka turned to the assembled people and said, "I present to you Prylar Bareil."
After the ceremony, they retired to the dining hall for a celebration. During the occupation, it was rare for people to join religious orders, and Bareil was the first monk ordained in almost three years.
Bareil retired to his room and changed into his night clothes. He sat down on his bed, processing the events of the day. He heard a knock at the door. He opened it to see who was there. "Prylar Winn," he said in surprise. "Please, come in. What can I do for you?"
Winn stepped in and said, "Call me Adami. We are equals now."
Bareil nodded. "I suppose you can call me Antos, then."
Winn stepped toward Bareil and reached her hand toward his ear. He steeled himself for another incident of pagh-reading, but he was stunned when instead her hand brushed his cheek. He took a step back, studying her intently. He suddenly realized that she was a beautiful woman, and he wondered why he hadn't noticed it before.
Winn sensed Bareil's hesitation. She leaned in and whispered, "You know where you can find me."
Bareil watched Winn walk out the door, and he sat back on the bed, unsure of what to make of the encounter. He fell into a fitful sleep, and at about midnight, he realized that it was pointless. He got up and went to the library. When he arrived, he saw Opaka, reading by candlelight. She looked up and said, "Come, sit down."
He sat down and said, "I'm sorry if I disturbed you. I couldn't sleep."
"Not at all. I have spent many sleepless nights in here. What troubles you?"
"I've been wondering, and I know I should have asked this before, but the thought didn't occur to me until just a few hours ago. Are monks allowed to have," Bareil paused, suddenly realizing what he was asking, and to whom he posed the question. He paused, searching for another way of phrasing what he wanted to know. He finally settled on, "families?"
Opaka smiled. "Yes. The Prophets want us to experience joy. They do not require asceticism of their followers. I had a husband, but he rests with the Prophets now. My son is not much older than you are."
Bareil nodded and said, "Thank you."
He walked the halls of the monastery. His mind began to recall his orb vision. Winn stood by his side in all of the scenes. Perhaps the Prophets had brought them together. He found himself standing in front of her door and noticed that her light was still on. He knocked on the door and was admitted. Winn was standing in her nightclothes, her blonde hair cascading around her shoulders. Bareil reached out to touch her hair, never having seen it before, since it was always covered by her head covering.
As he touched her hair, she brought her hand up to his. Their lips met first tentatively, and then passionately. Bareil was unsure of what to do, so he let Winn guide him.
They woke up the next morning when the rays of sun streamed through the window. Winn spoke first, "Good morning, Antos."
"Good morning, Adami."
There was an awkward silence during which neither one of them knew the proper thing to say. Bareil broke the silence by saying, "The Prophets are smiling on us."
"I hope so," Winn said enigmatically.
Bareil suddenly became self-conscious as he stammered out, "I hope it pleased you. I must confess it was my first time."
Winn put her hand on Bareil's chest as she said, "Yes, it did. And last night was my first time...with a Bajoran."
The implications of what Winn had just said struck Bareil with great force. He had heard whispered stories about the Cardassian soldiers, but he had never before known that the stories were true. He vowed to himself right then and there that as long as he lived, he would never allow another Cardassian to touch her.
Bareil said, "It is nearly time for breakfast."
Winn said, "You should return to your room to change into your robes. Wait five minutes before coming to the dining room."
Bareil nodded and reached for his clothing. As soon as he was decent, he peeked his head out the door. Finding the hallway deserted, he hurried to his room. He donned his robes, waited, and walked to the dining hall. He greeted those who were present, "Good morning, Prylar Rhit, Prylar Bek."
They responded, "Prylar Bareil, good day."
Winn walked in. Bareil locked eyes with her. Playing it cool, he nodded and said, "Prylar Winn."
She returned the nod and said, "Prylar Bareil. May the Prophets be with you on your first day in our order."
They ate breakfast and went about their duties during the day. Bareil was assigned the task of monitoring communications from the other monasteries and from the Vedek Assembly. He found that occasionally, he would intercept a stray communiqué between Cardassian units. Opaka instructed him that when he heard anything of the sort, to copy it down and give it to her. "I have contacts in the resistance," she said simply.
The evenings were filled with study and discussion. He found that Prylar Rhit had the most profound insights. His discussions with Winn were always spirited, but he found he enjoyed them. Long after the others were asleep, he and Winn would continue their endless debates, sometimes in his bed, sometimes in hers. If the other monks knew about it, they didn't let on.
Two years passed. Tensions were heating up, and reports were coming in of the deaths of Bajoran slaves on Terok Nor. Opaka decided that the people needed someone to minister to them and to be her eyes and ears.
Opaka called Bareil into her office. She said, "I want you to know I have complete trust in you. You would be the perfect person for the assignment to Terok Nor. However, the Prophets have told me that you will be Kai someday, and that if you go to Terok Nor, you will die. I have decided to send Prylar Bek."
Bareil said, "I understand."
Meanwhile, Vedek Teero was getting restless and feeling powerless. All the other Vedeks had greater autonomy, running their monasteries as they saw fit. He had the misfortune of being a member of the Kai's order, so his discretion was constrained. He was frustrated that the only thing she was willing to do to fight the Cardassians was pass messages along to an obscure resistance cell in Kendra Valley.
Teero decided that there was more to be done. The Prophets are mighty, and he would channel that might to deliver Bajor. He approached Winn one afternoon and said, "Prylar Winn, you and I are alike. We believe the Prophets can be our deliverers. Our order is ideologically fractured. I wish to start a new order. Will you join me?"
Winn hesitated, "I'm not sure. I like it here."
Teero said, "I know you envy Prylar Bareil because he is Kai Opaka's protégé. You're always in his shadow, even though you have followed the Prophets longer. I'm offering you a promotion. How does Ranjen Winn sound?"
Winn smiled. "It sounds wonderful."
Winn came to Bareil's room that night with mixed emotions. As they lay next to one another, basking in one another's presence, Winn said, "Antos, I'm leaving next week. Vedek Teero is starting a new order, and he asked me to come with him as his Ranjen."
Bareil was surprised. "This is a great honor. I will miss you, but our paths will cross again. The Prophets have shown me."
Winn stiffened at the mention of the Prophets. She was still upset that they did not speak to her.
In the morning, Kai Opaka approached Bareil in the library. She said, "This order is in need of a new Vedek. Teero is leaving us."
"So I've heard," Bareil said.
Opaka looked concerned. "He did not ask you to join him, did he?"
"No, he did not," Bareil reassured her.
"I want you to become the Vedek," she said.
"Why me? Prylar Rhit and Prylar Winn both have more experience than I do. I am only seventeen years old."
"It is the will of the Prophets," Opaka said.
Bareil recalled the visions he had when he first arrived and knew Opaka spoke the truth. "I will walk the path they have set for me."
That night, Bareil went to Winn's room. He brought the betrothal bracelet with him, intending to give it to her. After they made love, he said, "I have found a way for you to stay and still be promoted."
"Oh, how?" Winn asked.
"Opaka has asked me to take Teero's place as Vedek of this order. Stay and be my Ranjen," Bareil implored.
Winn was livid, but she hid it well. How could this mere teenager be promoted ahead of her?! The Prophets were mocking her. "I can't. It would cause a scandal."
"I understand," Bareil said as his heart broke. He thought sadly of the bracelet that still sat in the pocket of his robe.
The next few days were busy ones as Teero and Winn prepared to leave. Winn did not come to Bareil's room after she turned down his offer to stay.
The night before the departure, the members of the monastery gathered in the orb room. It had been two years since they were all there. Kai Opaka stood at the front of the room with Vedek Teero next to her. She said, "The word of the Prophets continues to spread and grow. Vedek Teero has been called to start a new order. Walk with the Prophets."
Teero nodded. He then called Winn forward. He addressed her and said, "Prylar Winn, you have served the Prophets tirelessly for five years. Do you wish to accept their call to serve them in a greater capacity?"
"I do."
"Are you prepared to assist me in the leading of the new order?"
"I am."
"Are you willing to fulfill all the duties of your new office?"
"I am."
Vedek Teero turned to those gathered and said, "Let all who are assembled witness. I present to you Ranjen Winn."
Teero and Winn stood to the side and Kai Opaka called Bareil forward. "Prylar Bareil, you were led to us by the Prophets, and you have served them faithfully for the past two years. Will you accept the great responsibility of leading this order?"
"I will."
"Do you pledge to guide in love those monks who serve with you?"
"I do."
"Do you vow to serve all the people of Bajor as a member of the Vedek Assembly?"
"I do."
Opaka smiled openly as she pronounced these words on her protégé. "Let the Prophets and those assembled bear witness. I present to you Vedek Bareil."
Bareil went to Winn's room that night. He knocked on the door and was admitted. They regarded one another cautiously, she in her purple Ranjen's robes, he in his orange Vedek's. He reached out to her, bringing her lips to his. She pulled back and said, "No, Antos. Those days are past."
Dejected, he said, "Goodbye, Adami."
He wasn't there to see her off the next morning. Vedek Bareil was out in the gardens pruning his bromeliads. Teero and Winn gathered their belongings and headed out of the monastery gates. As the gates swung shut behind them, Ranjen Winn sneezed.
--End Part I--