The solemn bells were slow, ponderous, designed for maximum pomp. This ritual was not logical, though it was very traditional. There was a lot about Vulcan society that was less logical than they claimed to be.
T'Leiarel had let them paint her face and dress her in the gown, though she had refused to let them dye her hair despite her brother's frustration. He was going to be more frustrated by the time the day through, and if she was going to dress the part that didn't mean she had to tolerate anything that would linger. If she survived long enough for that to be an issue. They had opted for a heavy headdress that covered most of her hair in retaliation.
She approached where those standing as her clan were waiting. The small, confused but excited, trio of humans and the Vulcans who were clearly trying to pretend they weren't there.
"You look lovely." McCoy said gruffly. After all it seemed the right thing to say. She smiled broadly, causing a murmur of disapproval and was about to say something in response but she was nudged forwards by her brother, towards the sands at the centre of the space. A priestess stepped forwards and cleared her throat.
"These sands represent the sands of Vulcan, of every family, all the lost lands of our heritage." She began. "There is a lot of history here, so it is here where our solemn ceremonies take place." Stelev's grip was tight on her arm as he pulled her forwards. Savel was being held to a steady pace, more to keep him back than to urge him forwards, or perhaps to keep him upright. He did not look to be in a balanced state. Something that surely even the humans must notice. "As Savel and his family stand ready to bring T'Leiarel into their midst..."
"Wait." T'Leiarel said, interrupting the priestess. "I refuse this union. I would like to give both families the chance to withdraw their support of this union before resorting to drastic measures, but I will if I have to."
"No! You can't do this!" Savel shouted, pulling against the family members holding him. He was far from the logical and considerate man she had once spoken with as the urges fought within him.
"What is the meaning of this? You assured us everything was in order." One of Savel's family asked Stelev disapprovingly.
"There is no logical reason to refuse this match." Stelev insisted to T'Leiarel, his hand bruisingly tight. "For once just behave yourself for long enough not to shame our family. For the good of our species you need to do your part. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one."
"Perhaps." He seemed to think he had won and eased on her arm enough for her to pull away from him and grab the striker for the ceremonial gong. "But the needs of the one outweigh the desires of the many. You don't NEED this, Savel should have been seen to by the priestesses over a week ago when I told you I did not want this marriage. Better genetic samples than mine can be used with artificial insemination and surrogates to replenish our species. You WANT this marriage for your own reputation and career, for your convenience. I won't sacrifice my future so you can force one you choose on me. I would rather die." Dramatic perhaps but true, and in that moment it was very likely. "Are you willing to risk your life to force me into this?"
"Don't embarrass our family. Savel is the one our parents chose for you, bonded you to, and your condition has already ruined it once. You shouldn't waste this second chance." Stelev hissed. It was rich for him to say that, when he was the one who had told them in the first place, but now it was useful to him. "Nobody is going to stand for you. Is that why you brought these humans here? Do you think they will break our sacred traditions? This is not their world, you are not their concern and this is not their gravity, making them your champion would only lead to their death, and bringing a diplomatic incident on our whole people. Not even you can be that emotional and selfish."
"Now, I might not know quite what's going on here, but if T'Leiarel doesn't want to get married shouldn't that be her choice? What's this about people dying?" Kirk said, confused.
"Just watch Captain. I won't involve you, other than to watch the logical traditions of our people as they force me to either give up everything that I am to be the wife of someone I barely know or see blood spilled on these oh so symbolic sands." T'Leiarel raised the striker and hit the gong, even as her brother tried to grab at her again. "I declare Koon-ut-kal-if-fee."
"And who exactly do you plan to choose as your champion?" Stelev asked derisively.
"I will stand for her, if she will have me." Spock's words drew attention to his arrival, the drama unfolding, he was breathing slightly heavily from running but he had arrived just in time to hear the gong.
"You would choose a half-breed over your family?" Stelev demanded fiercely.
"I would choose freedom over servitude, I would choose life over cocooning myself in who you want me to be until I wither away to nothingness. My choice is for me, because I have no family." Saval's relatives had let him go and were backing out of the circle, the gong had focused him and he was very clearly balanced on the edge of attack, this was going to be a difficult fight. Then Stelev made a big mistake.
He hit her, knocking T'Leiarel to the ground. Then things started happening very quickly. Savel smashed into Stelev, and Spock rushed forwards towards the circle as well, but T'Leiarel put her hand up to stop him and he paused, on the edge of the circle, every instinct telling him to go forwards, but forcing himself to respect her choices. "Protect your friends, don't let them get involved."
She pulled herself back to her feet, gripping the striker tightly. There was the crack of bone and Stelev's cry of pain, so she shouted over it to make herself heard. "I choose myself as my champion, it is my life and I will not have it won by another to decide for me." She hadn't expected to get the whole sentence out, she had expected Savel to turn, but he didn't stop kicking Stelev. So she smashed him on the head with the striker. That got his attention.