Four months later:
Agnes was trying to suppress the feeling of anticipation at Hiren and her father's leaving. They were going to an official function, and for the first time in months she was not required to attend since her baby bump was showing. It was traditional that the Empress not be seen in the family way until one month after the child's birth. Letant had been contrite when he explained that to T'Mor and Agnes, and both vulcan women reacted appropriately with their vulcan version of disappointment. Neither of them minded though, since their return they had been overrun with official functions, public adoption ceremonies, state weddings, and party after party.
The vulcan women had other things they wished to explore this day, and try as she might, Agnes could not help herself but to rush Hiren out the door. When the state car arrived with her father in it, she didn't let him get out, but got her husband into the car swiftly. She raised the ta'al to them both with a content smirk as they drove off.
She stood there until they were no longer visible and then turned to T'Mor, who had joined her, carrying two packs and two cloaks. "Are you ready, Agnes?" T'Mor said suppressing her own excitement.
"I could hardly meditate this morning, T'Mor. I am very ready." She replied taking a cloak and a pack from her best friends arms. The two had become nearly inseparable over the last few months, keeping each other calm in the midst of the sometimes raucousness of the Romulan gatherings. "Are you sure the maps are accurate?"
"Very much so. I did not tell our contact that today we'd go, as I was unsure if we would actually be able."
"It's no matter. I can't believe we are going to meet him today." She said cryptically as they walked through the halls of the palace, her guards on her heels. "I remember when I was a child reading about him, and his father. His father was...most agreeable looking." She said with wry look in her eye.
T'Mor permitted herself a small smirk, "I actually met him, just after his first wife had died. He carried himself with logic and dignity."
When they got to Agnes's private apartments she turned to her guards, "We will be here all day."
They placed their fists over their hearts, "Yes, Mistress." they fell into place at either side of the door.
When the doors shut behind them Agnes and T'Mor shed their bulky formal top robes until they were down to the fitted suits underneath. They aided each other in putting on the common clothing, and cloaks. Agnes helped T'Mor put on her back pack, and then her friend aided her. "Are you sure that is not too much weight in your condition?" T'Mor questioned.
"I hardly feel it," Agnes replied, "I am still at full workout, T'Mor, nothing has changed as of yet. That and Hirens'..."She blushed, "desire, I find myself fit."
T'Mor helped tie off the rope they would use to climb down the window, "Does he still have need almost nightly?"
Agnes nodded once.
"Do you think that perhaps all Romulan males mate as he does?"
"I cannot speak for all Romulans males, but Hiren does require constant physical affections. Why do you ask?"
"Your father, has...asked me to join him for a private dinner tomorrow." T'Mor confessed and began climbing down the rope.
Agnes waited until there was room and then descended with her. "Will you go?"
"I had given it great thought, and I believe I will."
"This pleases me." Agnes replied, "I believe you would make a suitable pair."
A small tension lifted in her face, "Then I will proceed. I was concerned that it may mar our relationship."
"Not at all, and given the romulan women who try to capture his attention, I would say he would do his best to be with you."
The pair began walking through a forgotten trail of woods, "We will take the tunnel south, and we should arrive there in forty-five minutes, if we keep this pace." T'Mor said, "Will you teach me of romulan males as we walk?"
"Of course." Agnes replied, "Their...lok...it is slightly different than a vulcan males, of course as a doctor you know this, but..." she started and T'Mor took mental notes.
Letant had been talking for ten solid minutes before he realized Hiren wasn't listening. He stopped talking and watched his son-in-law vacillate between frowning bitterly out the window and staring at his fingernails. "What is wrong with you today, Hiren? Did you and Agnes fight?"
"No." he said in a short clipped manner.
"Then why do you look as if something is kicking you in the balls?" Letant asked reaching for the ale to pour themselves both a glass. He handed a drink to Hiren who took it and gulped half of it down. "Is it as bad as all that?"
"Agnes is deceiving me." he said flatly, "For two days now I have felt something." he gestured vaguely, "Today I have felt it strongest, she could hardly wait for me to leave. When I search, I am met with walls."
"Perhaps she is planning a surprise for you?" Letant offered.
"No, I get the sensation there is another man. "He said bitterly finishing his ale. "I can almost see it in her mind, he's not romulan, but she is thinking of him."
Letant's eyebrows raised, "Agnes would not, there isn't a deceptive bone in her body."
"Of course there is, Letant, she comes from the human version of the Tal Shiar. This cunning is one of the things I love about her. But I am not favorable to her cunning being used on me." He grabbed the bottle and poured another.
"Have you kept her satisfied?" Letant was prone to thinking whatever defect was going on was probably Hiren's fault.
"Every night, and I have even managed to make her scream. Do you know the difficulty in making a vulcan woman emot like that?" Hiren said with no small pride.
Letant held up a hand, "Too much, Hiren, remember this woman is my daughter." He tapped on the com, "Turn us around and take us back to the palace."
Hiren looked at Letant with a silent questioning.
"I won't go to the party with you like this. We are going to straighten this out before we go, they can wait. Plus, I won't have my daughter's honor questioned without knowing myself."
T'Mor and Agnes were at the mouth of the cave when two young Romulans stepped from the bushes holding up ancient looking disruptors. Both women held their hands up, "We have come to see your teacher. We bring gifts of food and information." The cloaks obscured both their faces.
One of the boys took out a scanner and then nodded to the other, both of them left their posts one leading them and the other behind them to keep an eye on the women. They walked through the cave tunnels for ten minutes before coming to a large opening. The lead boy turned, "You will wait here." he said, trying to sound like he had great authority and he seemed pleased when the women obeyed him.
Turning on his heels he approached a man in white robes, who was teaching small children by a small light source. The youth approached him, and he cast a backward glance. With a nod he stood, waving someone over to take his place. He dismissed both youths to help with the teaching, and approached the cloaked women. He studied them for a moment and raised the ta'al, 'Greetings," Spock said, his aged voice dry with apparent use.
Agnes and T'Mor removed their cloak hoods and returned the ta'al to him.
Both his eyebrows rose to meet his bangs, "This is most unexpected." He looked between them both, obviously recognizing them from the state run news. "Empress Agnes, and her handmaid."
"Osu Spock." Agnes managed, suppressing the awe she felt. "We come to serve."
His eyebrows rose again, "I take it this is not a state sanctioned visit." the hint of a grin playing over his thin lips, "But your service honors us." He motioned for them to come and sit with him. "Why have you come?"
"It would be illogical to believe that this is a sanctioned visit, since I am not supposed to be out of the palace." Agnes said gently stroking her swollen stomach before looking at him again, "We have come to learn, and to teach, and to aid you." Agnes said and helped T'Mor take off her pack before T'Mor aided her. She removed a pyramid looking device, "This is a Kir'shara, the writings of Surak, translated into Romulan and Vulcan. Within it is a holographic program that immerses one in vulcan landscapes, and contains the hologram of the greatest of the vulcan minds." she placed it before him, "And we brought food and replicators to help you feed your students."
A genuine look of gratitude and surprise played in Spock's eyes."Fascinating."
Letant and Hiren made their way back. Agnes's guards were posted outside her private rooms. The males blew past them and arrived in empty rooms. Letant frowned and Hiren flexed his hands into fists, and released. He lifted up Agne's royal robes, and showed it to Letant as if to say "SEE"
Letant shrugged his shoulders and opened up a hidden compartment on a bracelet he wore, "They just left, not long ago. Come follow me."
Hiren dropped the robes and his brows furrowed, "You put a tracer on my wife?
"IS your memory so elderly as to not remember how you met her?" Letant scoffed making his way down the rope hanging from the window, "I will not see her vanish like that again, and if you are going to be a jealous fool, I'd expect you to do the same." He landed on the ground and followed the trail, Hiren on his heels grumbling. About thirty minutes later Letant rounded on him, "Look, if she is betraying you, I'll cut my OWN lok off, dip it in gold pressed latinum and present it to you on a silk pillow. She may be doing something unapproved, but I promise you it's not naughty."
Hiren growled, "Your gift would be a very, very small consolation."
They heard the rumble and saw two callow youths lead the ladies into the cave. "Come, Letant, before the idiot children realize they've left their opening unguarded. The two slipped into the cave following and hiding at a discreet distance. When the older vulcan male approached Agnes Letant grabbed Hiren's wrist with a bruising strength, "Shh, you fool, watch and listen so we might know the whole story." He moved Hiren around a cave wall to get a better view and earshot.
"Thank you." Agnes and T'Mor replied.
"May I touch your stomach?" Spock asked, intrigued about the child growing inside her womb.
"Vulcan custom would permit that, but Romulan custom forbids that any male touch me, without my husband present and his permission. So, perhaps, when I introduce you to my husband he will permit you to touch the child."
"Logical." Spock said with a nod, "You've come to learn. What have you to learn from me?"
Agnes looked confused, "Logic, mental discipline,using touch telepathy, so many things, Osu. I was born a human, and made into a vulcan, at least half. You managed to create your balance in a time when hybrids were rare. I just wish wisdom, so I can be a better me, which in turn makes me a better wife, and aid to the people of Romulus." Agnes confessed.
T'Mor nodded, "We both need this for those reasons, and to serve these people who come seeking their own path."
"I do not wish special treatment, just the chance to serve the people and listen to the teachings so I can feel connected with the people of my new home."
Spock nodded, "All very logical motives. What of your husband and father, do they know?"
Agnes shook her head, "I saw no reason to tell them, until and unless you were amiable to having us among you. My father is protective, if you had for some reason rejected my request it would have done harm to you. He may have forbid you to teach. They are good men, but ruled by passion and emotion, I saw no reason in raising their anger if I could not participate. It would not be right. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few…"
"Or the one." Spock finished. "How would you feel if I denied you access to this?"
Agnes frowned slightly, "Disappointed, but I would believe you had a greater reason."
In the distance, Letant smiled. Hiren relaxed some, but he still found it stung him she had hidden something from him.
Spock thought for a long moment, "You may come one day a week, to begin with, but only if you have approval. I cannot risk these people and what they are doing here."
Agnes stood, "On my word." She raised the ta'al, "Thank you Osu Spock." T'Mor stood with her, both of them raising the ta'al.
Agnes had gotten into her night robes when her father stopped by her rooms, "Hello, Precious!" he said casting her a dimpled grin, "I've come to pick up T'Mor for our date this evening." he kissed her forehead, "Tell me again how that marriage proposal goes?"
Her right eyebrow raised, "Koon 'ut so lik"
"Ah, yes, Cuhn ups so bleek." He repeated badly.
She shook her head, "I have heard you speak breen more appropriately, Father, and Vulcan is not unlike Romulan…..how is this hard for you?"
He caught his reflection in the mirror, preening slightly, "There is no emotional attachment to the breen language." he smoothed his jacket down for the tenth time, turning sideways to see if he'd gained weight. He hadn't, which he thought was fortunate, because there was nothing he could have done before the date.
"Father, if you can't not mangle,Koon 'ut so lik, then say it in Federation standard." She blinked.
"Does she suspect?"
"She does not, though she did say you asked her on a date,and then asked me about the mating habits of the Romulan male."
He grinned, "I like the way she is thinking, Precious." he tore himself from the mirror, "Don't wait up." he quipped and touched her chin with the tips of his fingers.
"Where is Hiren?" she asked softly, "He has usually come into my rooms by now."
"I believe he is in his office." He rolled his eyes, "Go check on him." With that he released Agne's chin and bounced out the door toward T'Mor's room.
Agnes went to Hiren's office, a place she rarely went, and found him taping his stylus on a padd. She could feel he was having a strong emotions through their bond and she frowned as she approached. "Hiren?" she said softly.
"Yes," he said without turning to look at her.
"I have a confession." she said wanting to get it off her chest.
He put down his padd, not turning around. "Go on."
"I have betrayed you." she said in a soft tone, shame for sneaking around well up within her.
He snapped his stylus and swiveled in his chair. In his mind he was going to really be angry at her, he had planned all kinds of cutting things to say. Yet, when he swiveled around, she went to her knees before him, placing her hands on his legs. He found himself swallowing thickly, all his anger melting away. All of the harsh things he thought to say were pushed out of the way and he said, "It surely can't be a betrayal."
She looked up at him with real contrition flowing through their bond, "Today, I snuck out of the palace to meet with Osu Spock. He teaches, logic. I wished obtain permission to study from him before I asked you if it was agreeable. I should have asked you first, since I put my safety at risk."
Hiren let a long sigh, "I already know." he confessed, "Your father and I followed you. Your father, rightly, stood up for you, and I thought you were really betraying me." he stroked his fingers down her cheeks, and then lifted her up onto his lap. "I need your forgiveness as much as you feel you need mine."
"Why did you fear I would betray you?" She asked cocking her head to the side.
"There is no logic to it, my wife." he said cupping her face in his hands. "I am a jaded old romulan, and that is reason enough." her ran his thumbs over her cheekbones with a feather light touch.
"Then will you go with me, to Osu Spock, and learn together?" she asked leaning into his touch.
"If it will aid us in raising our child, and making our life, then I will go with you." he leaned up kissing her softly, "But if he says I may only touch you every seven years, he can forget his logic."
"I do not think that will be the case. Osu is married to a half romulan woman, Saavik. I doubt she abides by such behavior."
He wrapped his arms around her pulling her onto his lap, holding her protectively, "Perhaps this is the reunification of our people." he sighed out, "Not a war of aggression, or subversive actions, but the twinning of hearts."
"I find that pleasurable to think," Agnes said snaking her arms around him, 'As we speak, my father goes to T'Mor to offer himself to her as husband."
Hiren laughed, "It's a good thing he didn't lose the bet then." He thought back on Letant's rave about cutting off his own lok.
"What bet?"
"Nothing, my wife." he said stroking her hair.
"Cut lip ma leek." Letant mumbled under his breath, "No..umm, Koo tuth la beep? No, no. no." He paused outside T'Mor's room irritated with himself beyond measure. It was a SIMPLE turn of phrase, in a language he was familiar with. Yet he sounded like he had a bottle and half of Kali fal every time he tried to say the damned words.
He smoothed his jacket and sighed, knocking on the door before he could talk himself out of the entire thing. He'd been with many women, and the beautiful red head he took to the lunch was sweet, but the near loss of his daughter reminded him that a man in his position, if he were to take a mate, needed one capable of standing on their own two feet. T'Mor was that woman. There were absolutely no minuses when he looked at her, and he looked at her often.
T'Mor answered the door with a small bow, "Enter. You are early. I am not yet exactly ready." she waited a beat, "But then I am not exactly sure what I am getting ready for.'
Letant held his head up, and held up a cup, which he removed the lid and approached her with a cup of water. He looked her directly in the eyes when he handed it to her, and swallowing down his anxieties he said, "Koon 'ut so lik, T'Mor."
His hand felt like it was being left out in the wind for an eternity. He didn't know if she'd take it, drink it, toss it in his face, or Romulus might hear the first vulcan laughter, but he held steady.
T'Mor took the cup from Letant's hand, and met his surprising blue eyes. She placed the cup to her lips and drank the entire contents. Letant breathed again."So, you accept me." He said double checking.
"I accept you, Letant."
"Oh good." he said with a nod, "That's all the vulcan ceremony I know at this point, so allow me to conduct the rest of ceremony in romulan." He said very officially, taking her waist in his hands and pulling her into his body, "This is the part where I show you my affections." He whispered against her lips before pressing his mouth gently against hers.
His unrestrained emotion was flowing through his lips and pinging off her brain. He was in love with her, and apparently also lust. His feelings flowed from a logical source, her competency, her care of his family, her ethics, her devotion to duty, intelligence, and something a little more subjective, the way he saw her, he saw her as beautiful.
Letant didn't relent from the kiss until he felt they both needed to breathe, then he pulled back long enough to place his hands on her face, "That's phase one of my romulan proposal, phase two involves a lot more touching, a little biting, and then phase three, which is my favorite." he kissed her intermittently as he spoke, "I carry you to bed, where I undress for you and pleasure you until you scream." he held her face gently, kissing over her mouth, and running his fingers through the fringes of her hair.
"Vulcans, do not scream." she panted out, overwhelmed with the flood of want flowing from him. If she didn't know better, she'd have sworn he was in plak tow.
"Well ,then." he stopped and swept her up into his arms, "We'd better get started on phase three." He gently placed he on the bed and began removing his tunic, he paused slightly looking into her eyes searching for consent to continue. She removed the first of her robes, shucking it off her shoulders, and his eyes fluttered as he praised whatever gods or universe might have been listening that she wanted him too. " He threw the tunic off and dove on her carefully, rocking her backward. He captured her lips again as his hands parted the voluminous robes, he pulled back and began kissing down her neck, each kiss making her squirm a little more.
"What are you doing?" she gasped as he moved closer to sex.
"It's a special kiss, T'Mor, a secret weapon I have against your scream shields." He purred.
Her eyes went wide as his mouth touched her for the first time, grabbing the sheets around her she gasped hard. As strange animal sounds began bubbling up from her throat, she realised Agnes had not warned her about this, and likely nothing could have prepared her for it anyway. Against all logic, Letant was going to get his scream.
