A/N: I can't believe how long it has taken me to continue with this, I have been suffering a severe writer's block and I am still a bit unsure on this chapter. I promise the next one will be ready soon!
Thanks once again to those who have reviewed and also to those following on story alerts etc :)
Chapter 6
Kirk stood outside of Elise's quarters, he had requested entry to the rooms twice but so far no response had been received. Letting out an exasperated sigh he keyed an override code into the panel and entered the room.
The Elasian was in the same place as he had left her earlier, standing motionless gazing out of the window. She turned to glare at Kirk as the doors closed behind him.
"I did not give you permission to enter these rooms."
Kirk allowed himself a smug smile. "This is my ship Your Highness, I go wherever I please."
Elise snorted with laughter, "You men are all the same, a tiny amount of power and it goes straight to your heads, you think you can do whatever you want."
Jim shook his head, "Not at all, I try to act in a manner befitting my station, and that includes ensuring the safety of all on board the Enterprise. You were not answering the call; I had to make sure you had come to no harm."
"I disagree; you were just trying to exert your power." Elise looked Jim up and down appraisingly, "I have met men of your type before, you enjoy the authority bestowed on you. I find it generally indicates a need to make up for lacking in other areas."
Kirk raised his eyebrows feeling his annoyance beginning to escalate. "How dare you insult me when you know nothing about me?"
"Yet I am meant to accept your own presumptions of me and my situation?" She replied swiftly.
"I am making no assumptions, I make judgements from what I see presented before me and your arrogance is extreme," Jim shook his head in what was almost admiration. "What you are unaware of Your Highness is my own past history and reputation." He looked the Dohlman challengingly in the eye.
He was beginning to enjoy this.
"So the little boy in you pushes itself to the forefront and you try to impress with me with past glories?" Elise said, clearly amused.
"If anything the exact opposite, I am not proud of my past, I am trying to make the point that whatever has happened you should learn from and make the best of any opportunity given to you."
"You know nothing about what awaits me on Troyius, how dare you even insinuate that you could understand what my fate will be. This is no opportunity, it is a prison sentence. All you are doing, Captain," she spat the word out in disgust, "Is further substantiating my initial assumption that you use your position of authority as a way of forcing your opinions on others."
"Your beliefs are grossly unfounded," Kirk said trying desperately not to show how angry he was.
"But, Captain, you are saying I am making assumptions without knowing anything about you when that is exactly what you are doing to me." Elise's hands balled into fists in frustration. "You see me as arrogant when I see you in exactly the same way."
Jim stood silently, realising the female was, at least some extent, right. He was finding himself regressing, enjoying the argument to the extent that he had also reverted to being judgemental and rash which, while he was still proud of his instinct, were two of his traits he tried to suppress.
He bowed his head, "Then I apologise, my past experiences should have led me to being more considerate to your situation and I should have acted as my rank suggests and listened to you."
Elise looked shocked at Kirk's acquiescence to her argument and sank onto the bed in surprise.
"You are admitting you are in the wrong? To me?"
Jim laughed, "Not all men are incapable of admitting when they know they are in the wrong."
He gestured towards the bed, "May I?"
Again the Dohlman looked taken aback, "Yes, certainly," she moved across to allow room for Jim to perch on the edge of the bed beside her.
"Thank you," Kirk said. "Your Highness, I have not been Captain of the Enterprise for very long and the very fact I have achieved anything such as this is still sometimes hard for me to comprehend."
"I have to admit to being somewhat aware of your reputation Captain, it was necessary to look into your background as part of the security for this trip." Elise said.
Kirk looked her in the eye. "You are right about my arrogance. I fought my way through Starfleet, I rely on my gut instinct the majority of the time and I will never back down if I think I am in the right.
"Then we do have some things in common Captain," Elise said wryly.
"Even the females of the Elasian species are bought up to be warriors, we undergo the same training as men, it makes us strong willed and independent."
"And arrogant."
Elise bristled. "It is not arrogance as such, it is confidence."
Jim laughed, "Even that comment shows your natural arrogance."
Before he had chance to react Elise's hand came up and slapped him across the face and he grabbed hold of her wrist as she went to lower it back down.
"I would advise you not to do anything like that again," he said through gritted teeth. "I am only trying to talk to you; I will not take that kind of behaviour."
"You are speaking to me as though I am a child," spat back Elise.
"That is because, Your Highness, you are acting like one."
Jim was horrified to see tears pricking at the eyelids of the Dohlman as she pulled her arm out of his grasp and looked away from him.
"I have to keep this part of my character intact, without feeling as though I am a true Elasian I have nothing," she said softly, her body relaxing as all the fight went out of her.
She looked back at Kirk, "I am being sent to marry someone I have never met, someone who is a member of a species that my own race traditionally abhors and I am meant to simply be at peace with that?"
A single tear ran down her face.
"I have to keep some part of me," She continued, "I will do what I have to, even though I will hate being a possession, I understand the necessity, I just despise the whole idea of it."
If there was one thing Jim hated more than an angry woman it was an upset one.
He sighed. "You may be surprised; although they are uncommon, it is not unheard of for arranged marriages to work out?"
"I doubt it, I am a trophy and I will be kept as such."
"But you are gaining such an opportunity; you are being given the chance to create history for your species, to improve matters, to create alliances never before imagined." Jim smiled softly, "Sure, it's a hell of a responsibility, but one surely you should thrive on?"
"I haven't looked at this situation in such a manner." Elise said, her eyes fixed on Jim's face, her expression thoughtful. "It is still something I am extremely unhappy about."
More tears began to roll down Elise's face and Jim couldn't help pulling her into a hug, surprised when he wasn't thrown across the room for doing so, instead she remained remarkably pliant in his embrace. He pulled back, looking at her face and wiped her tears away with his thumbs as his mother had done to him many times as a child.
"We still have over a day until we reach Troyius. Would it be helpful if you learnt some of our customs which may help you adjust to the Troyian's ways and also help both of your species and the Troyians interact with Starfleet in the future?
"It may be of some help," Elise said softly, "You are too kind Captain."
Kirk smiled, looking intently at the woman sat next to him wondering why he had been finding her annoying only moments before, she was nothing but a lost woman doing what she had to for her species.
They sat in silence for a few moments, Kirk unable to take his gaze from her beautiful face. He raised his hand and ran it along her cheek as she watched him silently, thoughtfully.
As his gaze wandered over her face his eyes fell on her lips and he stared transfixed.
"Captain I really must be preparing for dinner. I shall be eating with my compatriots tonight as we are aware that our eating customs are different to yours. Maybe tomorrow you can show me what may be acceptable on my new planet and also to others from your prior experience?"
Kirk looked at her as if in a daze, he shook himself mentally and stood up. "It would be a pleasure Your Highness."
He made for the door, stopping as the doors swished open to look at the Dohlman who was still watching him, a strange look in her eyes. "I shall return later to ensure everything is still to your liking."
"Thank you Captain."
Kirk nodded and walked slowly from the room, finding it hard to walk away and unsure why. He was finding his guest far more fascinating than he had first imagined and he was curious to learn as much about her as possible.
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Jim was eating dinner by himself when Spock found him, the Vulcan frowning slightly at the speed in which he was eating his food, as though he had somewhere far more important to be.
"Is everything alright Captain?"
Kirk looked at Spock in surprise as if he had not noticed him approach, "Oh hey Spock, take a seat," he said gesturing to the seat opposite him which Spock slid gracefully into.
"Did Dr McCoy find you?"
"No, I haven't seen him since earlier today. Why?"
"He was looking for you, he said he had something to tell you but he would not divulge the information to me." Spock said clearly irritated.
"Well if it is important I'm sure he will catch up with me." Jim said breezily. "How are we doing in regards to reaching Troyius?" He continued, taking another bite of his food.
"We are making good time, we may even arrive early."
"Really?"
Spock looked at Kirk curiously, "I thought you would be pleased to hear that our guests would be on their way sooner than expected?"
Jim sighed, "Not at all Spock. If anything I think I was rash to judge their characters. In some ways I will be sad to see them go so soon, I think I could have learnt a fair amount from them and them from us. Especially Elise." A slow smile spread across his face, "She is extremely fascinating beneath the surface."
Spock raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Is that so Captain?"
Glancing around to make sure no one was within ear shot he said, "Jim, I had thought you may have felt relieved upon hearing that the Elasians may be making an early departure from the Enterprise."
He went to reach for Jim's hand across the table in an attempt to get the other's full attention, but at the same moment Jim put down his knife and fork, pushed his chair back and stood up.
"Hmmm?" Jim said distantly, "As I said Spock, the Elasian's leaving early is a shame, especially from a Starfleet point of view; I feel as though we are missing a great opportunity."
Spock nodded, "I do understand how it can be viewed as such from a Starfleet prospective," he acknowledged.
Jim grinned at the Vulcan "Anyway I had best be going," he said. "I did say to Elise that I would help both her and her companions with some human customs in order for them to be able to deal with Starfleet better in the future. I had best start now if time is going to be shorter than expected."
"I understand Jim," Spock's voice was soft, his confusion evident, but going unnoticed by Kirk.
Jim flashed him a quick smile, "I'll catch up with you later."
"Certainly Captain," Spock replied curtly as Kirk hurried away.
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Jim hurried back towards the Elasian's quarters, his heart beating fast in his chest, knowing he had to make the most of the time remaining; now he felt he was getting through to the Dohlman he had to spend as much time with her as he could.
This time when Kirk requested entrance to Elise's quarters it was accepted immediately and he entered the room to see Elise standing by the bed as if she had been expecting him.
"You are here earlier than I expected," she said.
Jim stared at her; she looked even lovelier than ever. She had changed her outfit since he had last seen her and her hair, which had previously been plaited was now loose, flowing down her back.
As if he no longer had control of his body he stepped towards her, gathering her tiny frame into his arms and kissing her passionately, to which she instantly responded, her arms sliding across his back and pulling him onto the bed with surprising strength..........
TBC