AN: Glad to see folks enjoying this story. I am going to try to reference characters or situations that took place in I, Concubine so everyone knows what is going on.

Asunder

The Concubine Remembers

It is expected of me as a concubine to give sexual pleasure and light conversation. I am not supposed to have an opinion, burden him with worries, or express my own unhappiness.

I wanted just once for the prince to ask me about our son, Prince Syon.

The burden of Syon's birthright made him resentful towards me and made him more determine prove himself to his father. A man so far and away both psychically and emotionally the task seems impossible.

Prince Syon reminded me of his father and I hope his father will able to see this to someday.

Prince Sinok, the oldest shared his mother's hatred of me and my children and made every effort to make our lives miserable.

He also received the lion's share of his father's attention as the Emperor impressed with Prince Syon's intellectual capabilities at such a young age decided he would become a member of the High Council in service to his half-brother.

Syon wanted more than to be on the High Council or to serve his half-brother.

Everyone could see Prince Sinok had neither the passion nor ability to lead an empire, but instead being forced into it by his greedy mother.

When he becomes Emperor, Prince Sinok would be nothing more than a vessel for T'Pring to impose her will.

It's been several days since, I gave birth, and Syon hasn't made an effort to visit his little brother. Not sure if it's the baby or me he wants to avoid. My son has made it clear he is ashamed of me and perhaps even a bit apprehensive of having a new brother, another rival for his father's attention.

I want my children to be friends as they both will share the same obstacles. It would be nice to have someone to talk to, someone to relate to.

My children are lucky in this respect. I have no one.

As much as I love my children, they are as alien to me as the man who fathered them. They are Vulcan, I am human, they are royalty, and I am the daughter of a servant.

I crack a smile which confuses my baby as he looks intently at my face.

Kissing my son on his cheek, I look up to see a servant slipping through the crack of the door.

It's T'Uynal, my most loyal servant.

Princess T'Pring gave her to me to help with Syon shortly after arriving to Vulcan, but I'm no fool, she wanted the girl to spy on me.

Her plan failed and T'Uynal having come from a similar background became the closest thing to a friend I had here on Vulcan.

She reminded me in many ways of Duke Hiraku Sulu, my best friend who loved me greatly.

T'Uynal bowed, "My lady, it's time for the baby's nursing." She approached Tarek who stirred in my arms.

Human breast milk lacked the nutrients and richness needed for Vulcan babies and Prince thought it taboo for a human woman to nurse a Vulcan infant, even if that infant was the woman's own child.

Instead, T'Uynal who had several children of her own nursed my son. I handed over my baby to T'Uynal who removed her breast from under her shirt and began nursing Tarek.

T'Uynal preferred the balcony view and moved out there to nurse. My other servants prepared a small meal of off-world fruits and exotic dishes for me to eat, I wanted to share my meal with T'Uynal, but Emperor Sarek made it against the law for servants to eat 'royal food'.

Already fearful of the other servants for the favoritism I showed her; T'Uynal never touched the food or accepted my other offers.

Holding Tarek who nursed greedily, T'Uynal asked, "Have you been eating the soup, I prepared for you, my lady?"

"Yes, but it's too strong."

"I made it that way to help you restore your strength and energy. Vulcan pregnancies are very difficult especially for a human woman."

"You speak as though there human women abound pregnant with Vulcan offspring," I smiled.

T'Uynal pulled away to allow Tarek to breath, the baby moan annoyed about having his meal interrupted, "You will be surprised. Aristocratic Vulcan men often have human concubines."

"Doesn't mean they all get pregnant."

"No, most don't. Many women give birth to stillborn babies, some die shortly after birth or before."

I lowered my head. Syon's birth was painful and I nearly died.

"So much was going on when I was pregnant with Syon. My father was a servant in the House of Ndogo and arranged a marriage with a man named Jabari a member of the nobility. My family saw my marriage as a chance to advance!"

"You come from the House of Uhura." T'Uynal pointed out.

"Remember I told you, my family became nobility only after the prince…" I stopped. I didn't want to admit that Syon's conception was the result of rape. My own parents didn't even know.

"The prince took me and I became pregnant." I continued.

"Well the rules are clear, any children born of a Vulcan man belongs to him and his family. Even the mother would belong to him."

I bit my lip, "Well my family was given the title but not without…..so much happening."

I thought about all those who betrayed me for their own purposes and now as a traitors whore. But do they know? I was merely a child trying to survive in an adult world.

"Consider yourself lucky my lady; so many concubines are rarely afforded the treatment," T'Uynal brushed a few of Tavek's long locks from his face.

Leaning back in my chair, I breathed heavily, "I am one of the few who managed to give birth to a healthy baby and survive."

"You giving birth did not evaluate your status alone, my lady. Not all concubines whether they are human or poor Vulcan girls from the countryside see their families acquire wealth or their children openly accepted just because of who their fathers are."

"So what are you saying?"

"Prince Spock made you an imperial concubine for a reason. He has officially recognized your half-human children for a reason," T'Uynal finished nursing my son and began rocking him to sleep.

I wasn't sure where this conversation was going and I wasn't sure if I wanted to know.

"Love?"

T'Uynal shook her head, "Vulcans are incapable of love."

"Really? So you don't love Tarek or Syon. You nursed him as well."

T'Uynal didn't say anything.

"Right! What you meant to say was Vulcans don't express emotions. I remember what you told me about Surak."

"Perhaps it is, but in this world of politics and power, love wasn't the only reason. It can't be. A Vulcan male wouldn't base his actions on something as trivial as love."

T'Uynal stood up and walked back into the larger room. Placing a now sleeping Tarek in his crib, she turned towards me, "I remember when you came here so young holding Syon in your arms. Prince Syon had a gift, a presence, and ability to lead even at his age. Princess T'Pring is starting to feel threaten by him and there is no telling what she might do."

I snorted, "T'Pring is nothing more than a veiled wife."

"But she is still the wife."

She had a point. The other servants whispered about T'Pring's as much as they did me. They talked of her affair, her standing before both the Prince and Emperor defeated as she gave vivid detail about the affair. They talked about how Prince Spock out of cruelty not only made T'Pring witness the execution of the Stonn, but even more depressing forced the Princess into having an abortion once doctors learned of her pregnancy.

With so much drama it made me wonder how the imperial family managed to keep all of it in house. Perhaps the fear of the Emperor kept them silent.

Sometimes when I see the princess walking the halls of the palace either by herself or surrounded by her servants, talking to other noble ladies about trivial things at dinner parties or standing next to the Prince at formal events, I can feel her anger, pain, lost, shame, sadness, and isolation hidden behind by an expressionless Vulcan exterior.

And in those moments, my heart weeps for I am Princess T'Pring.

T'Uynal stopped talking and sharply turned her head towards the front doors. Standing up she bowed, "Greetings your highness."

"All is well T'Uynal. Good afternoon mother."

It was Syon.

Despite being a Vulcan, I could read his facial expression as well as any human's, he was annoyed.

"Why did you summon me, mother?"

I stood up and pointed to the crib, "I wanted you to visit your newborn brother. You haven't come to see him since his birth nor have you inquired about my own health."

T'Uynal adjusted herself and stepped back.

"Sorry mother for not coming sooner; however, I am preoccupied with my studies."

"Your grandfather wants you study, this I understand, but not coming to see me, I don't. I am your mother!"

My emotions once again get the best of me and my son just stands there not fully understanding why I am so upset with him.

He is too Vulcan to understand.

And I know deep inside he doesn't care.

He dismisses the servants, "Mother, please don't call the Emperor my grandfather. Such informal titles are not to be spoken of in front of the servants."

I threw up my hands, "So what?"

Syon raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"You are pulling away from me."

Again Syon's face remains expressionless, "What do you mean 'pulling away'?"

My eyes widen unable to check my growing rage.

I pointed at my eight year old son, "Stop using your studies as an excuse for not coming to see me. I am your mother. I gave life to you."

"Mother…."

I interrupted him no longer able to stop the flow of emotional rage, sadness, and bitterness, "I am YOUR MOTHER!"

Cries emerged from Tavek's crib.

"My brother is crying." He said condescendingly.

"This isn't over. You don't get to ignore me simply because….."

"Because what? You just don't get it," Syon raised his voice now unable to control his own emotions. "I may be a prince, but I am also an illegitimate, half human son of my father's concubine. Technically, mother, you are nothing more than my father's slave!"

"What did you say?" I asked genuinely startled by his outburst.

"This," he pointed at me, "Is my birthright one I am reminded of each day by those who hate me. I may be only eight but I am far from being a child! I know your history, I know what happen to you, and I see your resentment of me in your eyes! But, mother, you surely can see what will happen to us if I fail to prove myself. Princess T'Pring wants us gone! Dead!"

I lowered my head.

"Sinok," Syon's voice deepens, "It offends me that he is next in line only because he is a full blooded Vulcan! He is incapable of ruling….."

"He is the oldest and its treason to talk of him in this way."

Syon snorted, "He shouldn't be allowed to rule. And if I can have my own way, he wouldn't."

He stormed out of the room and T'Uynal reentered to attend to Tavek.

I felt numb.

"Is everything okay?" T'Uynal asked.

"No, it isn't." I answered.

I needed to see the prince.

An: Syon is well beyond his years. Enjoy? Leave a review.