Chapter 50 - Summoned

While the two doctors conferred amongst themselves, Amanda sought out T'Pau. "We should go, now," she said, her impatience flaring to anxious urgency.

"Not yet," the matriarch informed her. "We wait for thy bondmate to depart for the ceremonial grounds."

Confusion reigned again for Amanda. That's where I thought he was already. "Where is he?"

"He is in seclusion."

"Still? Why?"

"He meditates there until thee is ready, and have arranged thy affairs, so that thee may have thy rights."

"'My rights?'" Amanda repeated, confused.

"At this time, the female has the right to accept her bondmate in marriage or to choose a champion to fight for her freedom," T'Pau responded, as if educating a Vulcan child on the subject.

Amanda's head swam for a moment in bewilderment. She remembered, kal'i'fee, a fight to the deathand the absurd idea that I might want to divorce him. She shook her head violently.

"He's delayed this now… because he thinks I might want to invoke the Challenge against him?" Her voice rose in disbelief. "No!"

"Thee must have thy rights," the matriarch repeated, toneless. "As matriarch I must advise thee of both options. Both are acceptable."

"'Acceptable?'" Amanda cried. "How can you say that about your own son?!"

T'Pau's gaze was solemn. "I am a mother, yes, but also pid-kom. It is my duty to serve all."

Amanda turned her face away, unsuccessfully hiding the tears she was trying hard to blink away. She felt a disconcerting, rising sense of panic. I need to get to him… He's in danger!

"Oh, what a nightmare," she whispered, despair in her voice as she thought of Sarek, deep in pain and at risk for his life over some misguided notion of honoring her. In frustration, she bit her lip so hard it nearly bled.

The elder Vulcan's eyes snapped to hers with a piercing glare. "Thou art afraid, Human?" she demanded, eyes boring into Amanda's.

"Of course I am!" Amanda replied, exasperated. But when she saw the shadow of emotion – alarm? disgust? – flicker across the elder's face, she realized with a knife-like stab that she had misinterpreted the question.

"T'Pau," she said sharply, not caring how she was addressing the matriarch of all Vulcan, "I'm not afraid for myself, if that's what you're asking. Sarek could die! And here I am, not with him. I should go to him right now! Forgive me, but this is madness!" Amanda blew out a frustrated breath as she agitatedly started to pace again, angry at the whole situation and not caring that it showed.

T'Pau stood back for a moment, studying the distraught Human female before her. Amanda's rampant emotions battered the matriarch's shields. She could sense through the chaos that it was true, the Human was not afraid for herself; rather she was deeply concerned for her bondmate. She also sensed a familiar, building pattern in the roiling emotions that threatened to boil out of control.

"Does thee burn, child?" the matriarch asked, and although she refused to let her amazement show, she was incredulous.

Amanda waved her arms. "How the hell would I know?! Goddammit! What are we doing here? This is insanity," Amanda snapped, overcome with anger again before her face transformed again into despair and more frustration. "I just want…" Her voice trailed off, but it was obvious what – and whom - Amanda wanted.

T'Pau did not react to the barrage of Human expletives, only commenting, "I see that thee does." She made a swift decision.

"It is time, then. Let us go."

Her great concern remained for their survival – both of them. In spite of this, though, the pid-kom felt slightly reassured by the strength of what Amanda projected. Sarek should have his bondmate. If she remains constant in this regard, even once she experiences the Fires, my son may just survive. At this point, the Human offered a greater chance for him than the surrogates, whom Sarek could still reject even in the heat of plak tow.

"Thy bond is indeed strong," T'Pau murmured.

Her voice tart, Amanda retorted, "And I love him, too, you know."

T'Pau only flicked a brow.

ooo

I… am… in… control…

A long, shuddering breath. And then another. They should be cleansing, mind clearing, but they fail. A growl of frustration.

Sarek abruptly leapt up from his meditative position and began to pace agitatedly. He could no longer find calm.

He paced in the bright morning sun, yet his body was chilled to the bone, wracked with shivers. When his eyes sought out the horizon, he could no longer summon tranquil thoughts. Instead, in his mind's eye he could only see the place of koon-ut-kal'i'fee. He was drawn to it. He found his pacing steps turning toward his hover-car.

I must go - No! Not yet.

He resisted, even through the increasing bodily pain and the mounting, untamable anxiety. The physical and, yes, emotional aching were becoming more and more difficult to withstand.

He needed to be one with another – but only one other, her. His mate. He needed her touch, and hers alone.

He wanted to call to her, summon her, even more than he wanted his feet to move, yet still he fought down the impulse with every bit of energy he could muster.

But the Fever burned, scorching his body and licking at the door to his mind. He had forced himself to wait far too long; the hormonal imbalances of the Fires had become too great to withstand. It was impossible to fight on all fronts at once.

The Fever raged, and sentient reasoning vaporized. The pull toward the mating grounds became irresistible.

Live.

One battle lost, his brain succumbed to his body's demand. Without another conscious thought, he went to his flitter. It was Time.