They had managed to get a little conversation done before Spock had to leave to greet his father... which left T'Leiarel to worry about what Sarek would think, and what Spock would say to him about her before they met, and to worry about why exactly she was so worried.
She wound up fiddling with the table settings and looking around the room. The captain had graciously allowed them the use of the captain's mess, though she suspected his offer had been an excuse to drop by to see what was going on, and if he had arrived ten minutes earlier he might have interrupted more than he was bargaining for... but as it was the timing had come together fairly smoothly. The thought of the long and enjoyable afternoon had a small smile on her face which turned into a bit of a blush across her cheeks as Spock and Sarek managed to walk in at that precise moment. With Kirk and Uhura leaving them at the door.
"Father, may I present T'Leiarel, my bondmate." Spock said formally as the door closed behind them, keeping the curious humans out of this particular discussion. "T'Leiarel, I am pleased to introduce you to Sarek, my father."
"I am grateful for the introduction, I have heard much of your father and his diplomatic exploits in the service of Vulcan, and now of New Vulcan." She kept her tone even, not sure yet whether she planned on keeping up the socially expected emotionless mask or whether she would be more honest as the meal progressed... Spock clearly cared about his father and their relationship, and she didn't want to bring more tension between them than could be helped. It was best to start polite and worry about the actually getting to know people later perhaps.
"My son has expressed his admiration for you in how he chose to explain the events of this morning. It takes a great deal of courage to stand as your own champion against a larger and stronger opponent with the determination of a young man's passion. Spock told me he had offered to fight for you, he has experience and it would have been safer for you, I am interested to know why you decided against it?" Sarek said, equally calmly but perhaps a little more directly. "I would have suspected that you did not want to find yourself bound to him by the result, but it is my understanding that you have not chosen to break your, unexpected, bond."
"I suppose I feel like there is a difference between being bonded to one another and being bound to the will of another. If I had chosen someone else as my champion they would be the ones paying the price for my freedom from my family, only for me to become their purview instead, the champion would be the one to decide if I married and whom. According to tradition." Spock shifted uncomfortably as she spoke. "I do not doubt for a moment that Spock would have let me make that decision, but I wanted it to be mine not something I am permitted."
"Very logical reasoning regarding the situation and finding the emotional and legal situation you needed to reach." Sarek responded, which surprised T'Leiarel. "Especially as you do not want to marry my son." There was weight to that statement, questions under the words themselves.
"It has little to do with Spock and everything to do with marriage. I don't want to get married, at least not right now, and not by Vulcan traditions, and not to someone I don't know especially well, yet." T'Leiarel explained and Sarek nodded, his manner easing slightly. So that was what he was concerned by, the suggestion that it might be Spock that was being rejected, something she knew Spock would be questioning too, she wished she could truly set those concerns at ease but there was little she could do on that front. That was an insecurity born of constant rejection by their fellow Vulcans, something she could empathise about but the only way to fix it would be through love, which would take time. "I do know that if it was anyone else I had found myself bonded to other than Spock I would have ended it already." That surprised both of men.
"So you do feel something for my son? For all that our people tend to place logic above emotion, I have come to learn there is one area where valuing and understanding your emotions can be deeply rewarding." Now that was something that surprised her. Sarek supporting the concept of emotions, of romance. "My wife, Spock's mother, taught me a great deal about the value of love. I hope it is something you and Spock will be able to learn as well, together or apart. Though I am sure you will understand if I ask you not to repeat the sentiment. I am sure you are as aware as I am how the majority of our people would react."
"I most certainly can understand." And she supposed with such an important job among their people his reputation was probably very important to him. It was a deep sign of trust that he would share it with her. Though she supposed it was hardly like she had anyone to tell, or that anyone would believe her. Still it was nice to see behind the facade, she was beginning to realise that more people hid parts of themselves than she had thought. It was a sign of the damage their culture had done to them all.
"So our plan is to spend the next two days while we are still in orbit to get to know one another better, and then T'Leiarel can decide where she wishes to go from there, as regards her living arrangements, and unless either of us has reason to object we will try and stay connected, meeting when possible." Spock explained, he had purposely waited until after his father had chance to meet her before fully discussing their intentions, though he had been quite sure the two would understand one another. He was less sure about his budding bond and romantic relationship, now that the passion and certainty of the urges had faded. But then one thing he had learned on the Enterprise was that nobody could predict the future, even those who had lived through it once.
"I would very much like it if you could find the time to visit the planet and see what I have managed to achieve over this last year, both with the house and the community. I can understand however if you would prefer not to. I cannot guarantee that there will be no friction, but now that I have some clarity on the situation I will do what I can to minimise it." Sarek offered gently, knowing that to pressure his son would be unwise, he was so headstrong, it only made sense that would be something he would share with a bondmate.
But then if the rantings of her brother and former betrothed had been correct she had V'lar's Syndrome, and would have had to be extremely resiliant to survive growing up with it in their culture. She was an impressive young woman, if the research he had been doing that afternoon was anything to go by. Much of the records had been destroyed with Vulcan but some of the fragments he had found about her academic success before leaving the planet spoke highly, and that was before considering her courage in leaving at all, and ability to survive on a strange world. It was clear she wasn't afraid to explore, also very like his son.
"I will try." Spock said non-noncommittally. Even now his feelings had settled somewhat he was reluctant to be away from T'Leiarel, there was so little time to get to know her further. He didn't want to push her into returning to a place and a people who had caused so much pain, and given the current gender imbalance perhaps the lingering traces of his instincts were against her being around so many young men before he could convince her to make things more certain between the two of them. Not that she seemed like the kind of person to be convinced of anything. The person most likely to have good advice on the matter was Nyota, but then it might be more than a little awkward given their history. He should probably make time to speak with her about things.
"I would love to visit your home." T'Leiarel said firmly. "As for the rest of the community, it might be safest to see how things settle down? It might be best for me not to go, but you should have some time with your son by yourself as well." She added with a shrug. "I know if I had a good relationship with my family I'd MAKE the time to spend with them when I got the chance."
"Thank you." Sarek replied. It was a considered response to the situation and encouraged him even more about the connection between the two of them. She could be good for Spock. "Now, I would like to hear more about how the two of you came to be bonded? It is not something that happens accidentally as a common occurrence."
"According to the priestess, all it takes is for the two young vulcans to be in a similar state of mind and wanting to connect, the ceremony is simply a way to encourage that, and bring the two families together. By inducing the nervous desire to please their families and emphasising the importance of that connection, as well as keeping them separated to discourage accidents and ensure logical pairings." Spock explained.
"Well, that makes a lot of sense." T'Leiarel responded, as Sarek also nodded his agreement. "We were both isolated and wanting someone who would accept us... I think? It was while my parents were speaking with you and the school principal after the fight with my brother."
"Well then, I am glad you found each other." Sarek said with a small smile, which might have not seemed like much on anyone other than a Vulcan but was, in context, quite the dramatic reaction. "It seems like a much more logical pairing than anything my wife and I were considering. I suppose the surprising logic of unplanned partners might run in the family, I know that mine was far from conventional, but it was by far the most important decision I ever made, and I am glad that I listened to my emotions as well as my logic."