See A

See A/N and disclaimer in chapter 1.

Age 7 - the Bonding

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She was trying to be stoic and proud and serene, and a whole lot of other things, really, she was.

But she was only seven, a tiny child with a quick mind and huge black eyes that spoke of insatiable curiosity. Only seven, and having trouble controlling her bubbling emotions.

"Mother," and T'Lar realised with dismay that her voice was trembling. "Why was I not allowed to meet him before?"

T'Sal looked down at her daughter, placid features marred only by a thin scar that ran from her temple down the side of her face and made her right eyebrow look perpetually raised. "It is not demanded by the tradition, kan."

How she hated it, being called child, even though she knew the hatred to be dangerously illogical - for what was she if not a child?

And yet… "But mother, I shall have to spend my life with him, why wasn't I allowed to get to know him before the bonding?"

"Control your tone of voice, kan," and her mother's own voice grew even colder than usual. "You will spend your life at his side. There will be time enough to learn your mate."

Leaning back in the ground shuttle's crisp faux-leather seat, T'Lar looked out of the window. Mount Seleya grew larger, filled the horizon as they approached. There, her famous namesake awaited, to bond her, T'Lar daughter of T'Sal, the future head of the House Sunir to a boy she hadn't ever met.

She was very grateful for the Vulcan life span, she realised. For now her great-uncle Sutok was head of their House, and after his death it would be his niece T'Sal, who was only 50 now, and would live for at least another century, if not two.

At times T'Lar hoped that her parents would conceive another child, a boy who would take her place as heir to the House, but T'Sal had made it very clear that she had given her House an heir and thus had done her duty. She would bear no more children but concentrate on her work instead. A renown and respected historian, she worked at the Academy in the capital, ShirKahr, leaving her husband to take care of the enormous house and grounds, not to mention the number of other real estate the House Sunir owned.

More often than not, T'Lar was almost happy that she seldom got to see her parents.

A subtle jolt of the shuttle tore her from her reverie; they had arrived at their destination.

The temples clinging to the flanks of the enormous mountain were an architectural marvel, but T'Lar barely paid them any attention as her mother led her up the long staircase that was apparently hewn from the mountain itself.

Traditionally the bonding would take place at the male child's clan ceremonial site, but since in this case the High Priestess was of the Sunir clan and had agreed to perform the ceremony, it had been decided that it would take place at one of the ceremonial grounds in the mountain temple of V'Reah.

A small crowd was already assembled as T'Sal led her daughter into the circle formed by enormous stone blocks. T'Lar saw Sutok and his bond mate, a group centred around a very old man that she assumed was the head of her betrothed's house, several friends of the family, and a number of monks and priests. The number of spectators wasn't helpful as she tried to calm down and not embarrass her family with a display of emotions.

She heard rather than saw her father come up to her mother's side as they stepped into the ceremonial positions, T'Sal slightly behind Stenn. Her own attention was focussed on a couple leading a boy her age into the circle.

A bit taller than her, his skin darker, a mane of thick dark auburn hair on his head and shoulders, the boy looked fairly unexciting. And with him, and T'Lar belatedly remembered his name - Se'hel - would she spend her life. She almost sighed.

Just then, silence fell over the shaded area. T'Lar thought she heard drums beating in the distance. Trying to centre herself she looked up, and met Se'hel's eyes. Surprisingly, the boy looked just as uneasy as she herself felt. Sensing her glance at him, he looked up and smiled with his eyes, the rest of his face a study in tranquillity. Startled and a bit amused, T'Lar 'smiled' back, feeling some of the uneasiness leave her.

She turned towards the circle entrance just in time to see four ceremonial guards carry in a litter with drawn curtains. The forlorn cry of a shavokh echoed around the silent mountain as the heavy velvet parted and gave way to a tall and very beautiful woman whose white hair shone like molten silver around her head.

Together with the rest of the crowd T'Lar bowed deeply, recognising her great-aunt and namesake, the High Priestess.

There was no sound as the regal woman strode forward and stopped a few paces before the two children. When she spoke, her quiet but forceful tones commanded the attention of everyone present.

"Na'shayalar na'kanok-veh la." Greetings to everyone present.

The High Priestess paused, seemingly listening to the echo of the ancient words as they spread over the mountainside.

"Etek hoknau fi'nash-mazhiv na'telan t'Se'hel eh t'T'Lar." We are gathered on these sands for the bonding of Se'hel and T'Lar.

Turning to Se'hel's father, the woman intoned calmly, asking if the child was of age for bonding. "Shalis, son of Stel, son of Sital, nam-tor sha'kan t'ya'shakhuv na'telan?"

There was no hesitation in Shalis' voice as he spoke. "Ish-veh nam-tor."

Nodding slightly, the elder T'Lar turned to Stenn, asking the same question. "Stenn, sa-fu t'Saruk, sa-fu t'Sonak, nam-tor sha'kan t'ya'shakhuv na'telan?"

Was there a small pause before Stenn answered, his voice sounding very subdued? "Ish-veh nam-tor."

T'Lar blinked. Didn't her father agree to the bonding?

Meanwhile the High Priestess nodded shortly. "Kal-tor palikau." Let us begin. She beckoned the children forward with a majestic gesture, and T'Lar found her feet moving almost on their own.

The next words were addressed to her betrothed. "Se'hel, son of Shalis and T'Lirah, nam-tor du na'telan?"

With a tiny glance towards his future bride Se'hel said quietly, "Nash-veh nam-tor." T'Lar was surprised to notice that he had a very pleasant voice, not deep yet, but silkily smooth.

Her great-aunt was speaking again, this time addressing her young relative. "T'Lar, daughter of Stenn and T'Sal, nam-tor du na'telan?"

Her last chance to back out… T'Lar squashed the silly thought. Yes, she was ready, and she said so. "Nash-veh nam-tor."

And then the priestess raised her hands, pressing finger to each child's temple…

… And the desert plains on the horizon and the mountain temple around her were gone, leaving her standing on a vast colourless expanse of… something. There was a soft wind caressing her cheeks and braiding her hair, and it whispered words… and she saw the older T'Lar standing there, her aura colouring her stern but beautiful and there was a link… Kashkau -- wuhkuh eh teretuhr - Our minds, one and together… and then she saw Se'hel…

… And he was in her head, a curious but very friendly presence, and she could taste his thoughts, see his feelings… Estuhn wi ri estuhn -- k'wuhli wi ri k'wuhli - touching, yet not touching; apart, yet never apart… and it was true, he was with her now, in her head, and she would never be alone again, and…

... She was back in reality, although it didn't feel very real to her. Actually, most of what she felt was dizzy. And Se'hel, of course.

In the depth of their minds, the children smiled at each other.

Apart, yet never apart, Se'hel's voice whispered to her.

Turning to the High Priestess, T'Lar spoke; hearing and feeling Se'hel say the same. "Nam-tor etek wuhkuh." We are one.

The master nodded solemnly, but T'Lar thought she felt her smile before the older woman released the link. "Ki'navau telan," she announced to the crowd, the bonding has succeeded. There were little sighs here and there, and also something dangerously close to a smile on T'Lirah's, Se'hel's mother's, lips.

She is always like that, Se'hel whispered in her mind. But it didn't sound irritated, only amused. T'Lar projected warm amusement back.

Meanwhile the elder T'Lar was speaking again, the last words of the ritual. "Lu sarlah pon farr - dungi-fun-tor na'nash-shi na'kun-ut kali-fi. Sochya eh dif." When the pon farr comes, you will return to this place for the kun-ut kali-fi. Peace and long life.

The children, and with them all the assembled raised their hands in the traditional greeting. The next words were spoken by everyone. "Live long and prosper."

T'Lar let herself be led from the stone circle to the waiting shuttle, hardly registering what was happening around her. Her mind bathed in Se'hel's company she quietly whispered the words.

Apart, yet never apart. No longer alone.