The commander reached the transit terminal before Garrus and Liara had closed half the distance to her. Liara reflected that even when injured, Shepard seemed only to have one speed. She wouldn't say anything though. The last thing she needed was to allow scolding the commander to become a habit. Nothing good would come of that behavior, and she knew that Shepard would never tolerate it.

Still, as she and Garrus walked up to Shepard, she made sure to visually give the spectre a once over, looking for hidden signs of distress. When her eyes reached Shepard's, she saw that the Human wasn't looking back at her, but rather behind and to her left, distaste evident in her expression. Although Liara had seen no tension in the commander's face, she placed her hand on her pistol as she turned to confront whatever had precipitated the sour look.

Liara felt her expression shift to match Shepard's as she realized who had come from the corridor leading to the requisition office. Nelyna, acolyte of Sha'ira, had stopped a respectful distance behind her. The maiden obviously having had positioned herself near the elevator to wait for the team from the Normandy to emerge.

Liara's newly acquired social standing meant that the acolyte would delay speaking until Liara addressed her. Liara considered making her wait, but then admonished herself for having such unbecoming thoughts. She would have to express her irritation with Sha'ira via some other means. Taking them out on the uncomfortable maiden in front of her was not an acceptable option.

"Cortigiana Nelyna, is there something you require?"

The acolyte started at being recognized, as she and Liara had never met. She wouldn't quite meet Liara's gaze as she brought her hands together. "Peeress, I am here on behalf of the Consort Sha'ira."

'That was unnecessary exposition,' thought Liara as she waited for the acolyte to get to the point. 'She does not wish to tell me. I suspect that I will not like this at all.' She suppressed any outward indication of the impatience she felt, even as she could sense Shepard's restlessness behind her.

"The Consort requests your presence at her chambers on the Presidium".

Liara's tone carried ice. "You may inform Sha'ira that I am unavailable. I have other business on the Citadel." She turned away, considering the matter closed. Liara was astonished when Nelyna addressed her again.

"I'm very sorry Peeress, but the Consort was insistent that you come to her chambers. I was instructed not to return without you." The maiden's voice has a slight shake, obviously uncomfortable with having been placed in a position so far outside propriety.

Liara closed her eyes as she prepared to tell Nelyna exactly what Sha'ira could do with her request when Shepard stepped in.

"If you need to go meet with Sha'ira, don't worry on my account. I'll be fine." Shepard had completely misunderstood Liara's disinclination to accompany Nelyna, but Liara realized that she could use this as her reason to stay with the commander.

Liara stepped close to Shepard. "I am not leaving you Shepard. Not now. You will need help if something happens."

Shepard smiled at Liara's dedication, even as she softened her tone, and pitched her response for Liara's hearing only. "You don't need to worry. I'll have Garrus with me. Besides, we're only heading to the Presidium and the Citadel Tower. We'll be perfectly safe. Nothing can happen."

Liara's composure nearly cracked under the comment. "Nothing can happen?" Liara hissed sharply. "Goddess! You are a spectre! It isn't like you do not have enemies! I myself have participated in three different firefights with you while on the Citadel!"

Shepard started at the intensity of Liara's response. The maiden was taking a breath to continue when Shepard reached out and put her hand on the maiden's shoulder. "You're right. I would never send someone into danger alone unless I had no other choice. That's exactly what I would be doing with Garrus." She paused, obviously uncomfortable with the admission. "I'm nothing but a target right now. There's no way that he could defend us both if someone decided to take a shot at me." Shepard activated her omni-tool. "Joker."

"Commander," the reply was immediate.

"Tell Kaidan to suit up. He'll be joining me to meet with the Council. Garrus and I are waiting at the lift to the dock."

"Aye aye Commander. Where's Liara? Is something wrong?" Joker seemed legitimately concerned, even if he still didn't sound like his typical self.

"Not now Joker. Everyone's fine. Details later."

"Yes Ma'am. Normandy out."

Shepard turned back to Liara. "See? I can be reasonable. Go ahead and see what Sha'ira needs. The Council will probably keep me waiting for a while anyway. You might even be able to meet us there before the session starts."

Liara should have felt relieved, but there was still something wrong. Liara couldn't put her finger on it, but she wasn't leaving Shepard until Lt. Alenko arrived. Sha'ira's summons was too specific, too insistent. It felt like a deliberate attempt to separate her from Shepard. Sha'ira had never given her reason to suspect that she might move against Shepard, but her time with the Human had taught her to pay attention to her intuition. She turned to face Nelyna. "I am in no hurry Shepard, and I suspect that Sha'ira isn't either, so long as you remain here. I will await Lt. Alenko's arrival."

Liara turned slightly away from Nelyna, placing her back squarely to Shepard. It likely wasn't necessary, but Liara was taking no chances.

Months of working with the commander had taught Garrus what the maiden was doing, and he took up a defensive posture as well. If someone wanted Liara separated from Shepard, it was probable that they wouldn't like the reason.

.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.

No more than 10 minutes had passed before Kaidan emerged from the lift. As he crossed the distance to the transit kiosk, he was surprised to not only find Liara still present, but the team was also in the company of another Asari that he didn't know.

Kaidan was mildly confused when Garrus and Liara didn't acknowledge his presence as he approached, until he realized that the pair were actively protecting the commander. Their eyes swept the room, and once he was identified as non-hostile, they moved on to maintain a continuing state of threat assessment.

He stopped adjacent to Shepard, and also turned to watch the room, his hand on his sidearm. "What's going on Commander? Joker said everything was fine."

"We're not sure Lieutenant. Someone really seems to want Liara separated from the team, and until I'm at 100 percent it seemed like a good idea not to take any risks."

"She's still here though."

"She's been summoned by Sha'ira." Kaiden watched the maiden blanch at the comment. "She wouldn't leave until you got here."

Kaidan spoke up for Liara's benefit. "You waited for me? I'm honored."

The maiden didn't turn around. "It may be nothing Kaidan, but since I was called away and not Garrus, my biotics might be a factor."

Shepard spoke up. "Well, Kaidan's here now and we've wasted enough time. Shall we?" The commander was already summoning a cab. "Did you want one too Liara?"

"No, thank you Shepard. Nelyna and I will wait until you are safely away."

The cab arrived. Shepard was in first, followed by Garrus, and finally Kaidan. Before the hatch closed, Liara turned to the Alliance officer one last time. "Keep her safe Kaidan."

Kaidan knew others might have been offended by a civilian telling an officer to do their job, but he also knew that wasn't Liara's intent. The maiden's interest in the commander's safety was even more overt than his own. He gave her a curt nod. "Don't worry Doctor, I always do."

.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.

The commander safely away, Liara turned to Nelyna. "I am ready. You may escort me to your mistress."

Nelyna moved to the kiosk to summon transportation when Liara interjected. "No, Nelyna. We can walk." 'Now that I've resigned myself to this, I might as well enjoy it.' She started towards the lift to the Presidium, as Nelyna hurried to catch up.

"Peeress, I thought you were in a hurry?" The acolyte's voice was barely above a whisper.

"I see no point in rushing Nelyna. I suspect Shepard will find that the Council will be atypically expeditious when she arrives for her appearance. Besides, although I do not enjoy the crowds of the wards, I appreciate the opportunity to study ancient artifacts, and the Citadel certainly qualifies." 'Even if everyone is wrong about it being Prothean.'

As they stepped into the lift together, Nelyna turned to Liara, eyes bright with tears. "I do apologize Peeress. I would never have behaved so had my instructions not been so explicit."

"That is all right young one," Liara smiled inwardly. Nelyna was easily a century and a half older than her, but her position placed her in a role of extreme seniority over the acolyte. "I do not hold you responsible. This is well beyond what should be expected of you." 'And one more thing your mistress should be held to answer for.' Still, Liara recognized this as an object lesson. One more reminder of the consequences of taking advantage of her people just because she had the power to do so.

.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.

After setting a leisurely pace across the Presidium, Liara and Nelyna reached the Consort Chambers. Nelyna still appeared distraught, but Liara had made certain during their walk to continue to suppress any overt indication of her displeasure with Sha'ira. She truly did enjoy the opportunity to observe the Citadel's architecture at something other than the blistering pace usually set by the commander. She was calm, composed. She felt fully ready for the coming encounter with Sha'ira. In fact, now that she had resigned herself to not accompanying Shepard to the Citadel Tower, she was looking forward to it.

Nelyna assumed her position at the greeting station, displacing the maiden who was there when they arrived. Her anxiety seemed to lessen once she was able to put her terminal between herself and Liara. The maiden took a deep breath and fully met Liara's gaze for the first time that day. "Peeress, The Consort Sha'ira is expecting you. Her chambers are up the stairs, at the end of the hall."

"Thank you Cortigiana. You honor your mistress." Liara's response was pleasant, yet she displayed no intention to move.

Nelyna looked at her quizzically. "Sha'ira is ready now."

Liara nodded. "Thank you again. I am ready as well."

Nelyna started to look visibly agitated. She did not wish to bother her mistress, but she obviously was missing something. She was about to reiterate Sha'ira's status when a small chime in her right ear alerted her to a call from her mistress. "Please let Dr. T'Soni know that I will be there in a moment, and ask her if she would like a refreshment."

The acolyte practically sagged in relief. "The Consort will be here in a moment Peeress. She asks if I may offer refreshment."

Liara gave her a sad smile. "No, you cannot."

"Peeress?"

"You cannot offer me refreshment. These are not your quarters, you have not the right."

Panic began to rise in the acolyte's eyes again when Sha'ira arrived, and placed a comforting hand on the maiden's arm. "Thank you Nelyna. I will escort Dr. T'Soni to my chambers."

.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.

Liara fell in beside Sha'ira as she walked back to her chambers.

Sha'ira was silent for a time before opening. "That was unkind."

"Yes, it was."

When Liara did not continue, Sha'ira pressed; "Why did you torture her so?"

"I was referring to the position that you placed her in."

They reached the door to Sha'ira's chambers. She palmed the door open and stepped inside. She had taken several steps before realizing that Liara had remained at the threshold. Several emotions uncharacteristically played across her face as she returned to the entry. "Is there a reason you're insisting on making this as unpleasant as possible? I was hoping for better from House T'Soni, particularly given the long relationship I had with Benezia."

Liara recognized Sha'ira's attempt to influence her by using her mother's name, but gave no outward indication. Instead, she maintained a level, almost indifferent tone. "I would assume then that you also never attempted to have my mother publicly summoned. Even Nelyna was offended at the miscarriage of etiquette demonstrated by your conduct."

Sha'ira's voice changed, gaining an imperious tone. "These are quite the aristocratic airs you're assuming. I presume this behavior is a frivolous attempt to demonstrate that you consider yourself my equal in the peerage?"

Liara made it a point to check her omni-tool for messages before responding. "Not at all Sha'ira." Liara deliberately continued to forego using a title. "I do not feel the need to lower myself for your comfort." She lifted her head, locking eyes with the consort. "Will you be inviting me in, or is our business concluded?" Liara was curious at this point as to how far Sha'ira would allow herself to be goaded. She realized that this could be quite entertaining, as she still suspected that Sha'ira could not allow her to leave.

Sha'ira locked exasperated eyes with the maiden, clearly considering the entire exchange absurd. However, after a moment she began; "Doctor T'Soni, I entreat that you accept the hospitality of my home. May your presence within it honor us both."

Liara stepped purposely forward. "Thank you Sha'ira. Your generosity is most welcome."

"Are you so in love with your new stature? Do you really feel that such strict formality is necessary?"

"I did not until you had me summoned like a child. You could have easily pinged my omni-tool instead of making a spectacle of your acolyte in the wards. You know I would have welcomed an invitation from the Consort." 'But then you could not have been sure to prevent me from accompanying Shepard, could you?'

Sha'ira paused as if about to reply, but then turned and paced to one of the parlor chairs on the right side of her suite. As she sat heavily she turned back to Liara. "There was tea prepared, but I can only presume they've had to make it two or three times by now. You certainly didn't rush getting here."

Liara moved smoothly to a position in front of the accompanying chair and gave Sha'ira an expectant look.

Sha'ira's tone was dismissive, apparently having reached at least one limit. "I'm finished with playing games of privilege. You've made your point. I'm not going to invite you to sit."

Liara offered a tight smile. It pleased her more than she expected to have aggravated the normally unflappable Sha'ira. Their brief time on Thessia had not been condusive for Liara to air her grievance with the consort. The maiden hoped to be able to rectify that today. "You are correct, of course. The time for posturing is past." Liara took her time settling into the adjoining chair.

Both Asari paused as the door to the chamber opened. One of the Consort's acolytes entered bearing an ornate tea service. Liara approved of the delicate yellow inlay that enfolded the ivory colored cups, as well as the heavenly scent from the service carafe. The Normandy had changed her life in many ways, but providing better than mediocre tea had not been one of them. The young attendant poured for each of them, and then backed respectfully out of the room.

Liara reveled in the taste of her tea for a moment, before turning back to Sha'ira. "You still have not told me why I am here." 'Or at least what pretext you have arranged.'

Sha'ira placed her cup on the table. "There was recently a maiden who ran into some difficulty with C-Sec, one Pororsha Jurix." Sha'ira waited to see if Liara responded to the name. "She had accepted a position with Turian nightclub owner as a dancer. After a few months her employer informed her that she was being relocated to Taetrus to dance in one of his establishments there. She did not wish to leave the Citadel. He informed her that she had no choice, as her employment contract was only specific as to length of term, not location. As opposed to going to Taetrus, Pororsha attempted to return to Thessia, but was arrested by C-Sec on a charge of breach of contract. She was given the choice of buying back her contract, or traveling to Taetrus. I was able to intercede on her behalf with the adjudicator."

"A bribe, you mean."

"An incentive."

"So Porosha has been released?"

"She will not be until she can demonstrate that she has the means to leave the Citadel. I was going to arrange for her transportation home when your felicitous arrival offered an alternative."

"Because she is Kaedra Jurix' daughter."

Sha'ira nodded in respect to Liara. "I am impressed. I did not expect you to recognize the name. House T'Soni must have a great many commandos even now. I would never have expected you to know them all."

Liara didn't bother with a response as she activated her omni-tool and scrolled to the third name on her contact list. "Message record, standard delivery; Iryra, Pororsha Jurix is in C-Sec custody on the Citadel. The Consort has intervened on her behalf, but Pororsha will not be released until she has arranged for transportation home. Send Eliata to collect her and escort her back to the estate. This was a misunderstanding, and her mother does not need to be informed." Liara looked away from her omni-tool and fixed her gaze on Sha'ira. "Sha'ira has incurred expense in assisting House T'Soni in this matter. Contact her people and arrange to provide reimbursement." The maiden lowered her arm as she deactivated her omni-tool.

"It was a pittance, I did not do this expecting compensation."

"And I do not make it a habit to accrue debts."

Sha'ira stared at Liara for a moment before she indicated the maiden's omni-tool. "You're on the Citadel you know. The comm network would have routed it if you had just placed a call. Your message probably won't reach Thessia for an hour or two at standard priority."

"Which is why I selected it. I did not desire a dialog, simply to provide direction." When Sha'ira did not immediately reply, Liara returned her attention to her tea.

The pair sat in silence for several minutes before Sha'ira finally reopened the conversation. "This must be a difficult time for you, given Benezia's death and all of her obligations and responsibilities falling to you. From an outsider's perspective it seems that you are handling it well." Sha'ira paused as she took another sip of tea. "I was very surprised to see you Name Shepard to stand with you at your ascension."

'And there it is.' "Why are you surprised? Do you question the commander's capabilities?"

There was hesitancy before the response. "Far from it. She is a woman of great strength, a strong leader. However, I did not believe that she was someone who would willingly enter the kind of obligation that she has committed herself to."

"Because you believe she lacks a sense of duty?"

"Because you are Asari."

Liara actually laughed, finally unable to maintain her calm facade. "You believe Shepard is a xenophobe?"

Sha'ira looked affronted. "I am unaware of the nature of your relationship with the commander, and Humans are known for their bigoted minority. It seemed a reasonable assumption to make. The possibility existed that she has her own agenda that does not have the interests of other races in mind."

Liara's voice turned cold at the implied criticism. "You were present at Benezia's release. You saw her crew. I am not the only non-Human that serves on the Normandy."

"Enduring the participation of other races is not the same as being sympathetic to their needs."

"I assure you that Shepard cares deeply for everyone on her ship, Humans and non-Humans alike."

"That was not the impression I received during my encounter with her."

"Because she declined your overture for physical intimacy?"

Again, hesitancy. "It surprises me that you are aware of the details of our encounter."

Liara considered herself fortunate that Shepard trusted her so completely. The spectre had come to her almost immediately from Sha'ira's chambers, concerned that she had somehow given offense to the Consort, yet unwilling to accept what was offered if that was required to avoid such offense. Liara had barely been on the Normandy for two weeks at the time, but even so she had carefully not shown the commander how relieved she had been at her description of events. The maiden lost her focus for a moment at the memory. 'It had only been two weeks, even before our first dinner.' For the first time the young Asari considered that even then Sarah's behavior might not have been because of a lack of interest in the Consort, but due to an undisclosed interest in Liara herself.

She refocused as she took a breath before revealing the depth of the details she was aware of. "Why? You yourself stated that you are 'unaware of the nature of our relationship'." 'Apparently so was I' she thought ironically. Liara went on to recite; "'I see the sadness behind your eyes. It tells a story that makes me want to weep. Pain and loss. But it drives you, makes you strong. It is that strength that people are drawn to. It is why you lead and others follow, without question. You will need that leadership in the battles to come.'" Liara took another long breath, "I have partaken in some of those battles. Hers is that strength that allowed her to free me, Shiala, Benezia, even the Rachni queen. Benezia's release was truly that, release. It was a gift that I was not strong enough to bestow upon my mother, an act of mercy that I could never repay."

"I feel the need to apologize, yet I find myself in the position of not knowing exactly what I am apologizing for. I would not have offered myself to Shepard had I known I would be intruding upon another. In my defense, she was not marked, nor did she display the signs of regular melding." 'Nor do you,' was the unspoken followup.

Now Liara's tone became even colder then before. "You can rest assured that Shepard does not need to be marked to be considered claimed."

"I wonder if she would agree with that, or even knows that you consider her to be yours. You are far from the only person whom she has come to their aid."

"She declined the consort. It must soothe your ego that there be an overriding reason. You were willing to characterize her as intolerant and prejudiced. Is devotion so unappealing an alternative?"

"Was it devotion? Given the needs of House T'Soni I'm surprised either of you felt comfortable leaving Thessia. You have decades of restoration ahead of you to undo all the damage left by Benezia. If she were truly devoted to you and yours, she would be by your side as you remained there to do what is necessary. Instead, she drags you across the galaxy, repeatedly placing the head of a Thessian great House in jeopardy."

Liara settled more deeply into her chair as the beginnings of a smile played across her face.

Sha'ira tilted her head at Liara's response. "You concede my point?"

Liara's smile widened somewhat as she placed her teacup on the table. "Concede your point? Of course not. Shepard was my advocate, my defender when I labored under the brand of traitor, a victim of the suspicion created by Benezia's relationship with Saren. Now she is cari'ssi'mi in House T'Soni, something that you would do well to remember. Her devotion to me and mine is without question. I was just smiling at what I learned from your comment."

"And what is that?"

"From your open denigration of Shepard, and my mother, that you no longer fear an angry departure on my part, therefore you are no longer laboring to keep me here. The Council's business must be concluded. From the fact that you did it in such a way that I might be provoked in responding carelessly, I can guess who is listening, and therefore who requested that I be distracted." Liara looked towards the door, "Will Veleda be joining us?"

Liara regretted not turning to see Sha'ira's reaction, but her suspicions were confirmed when the door opened and Councilor Tevos entered the consort's quarters.

Both Sha'ira and Liara rose. Sha'ira stepped across the room and met Tevos before she had gone more than a few paces. Tevos reached out and took the consort's hands as they brought their foreheads close, almost touching. Both matriarch's eyes swirled black for the briefest of moments before Tavos dropped Sha'ira's hands and turned to Liara.

"I am not surprised of course, but I am curious how you inferred my involvement."

"It was not difficult Veleda," Liara's tone held no malice, having given it up once she resigned herself to being prevented from attending the Council meeting. "There were really few possible options. The three Council members themselves, obviously, and the Human ambassador."

"Udina was a potential suspect?" Tevos sounded skeptical.

"For different reasons. He would prefer not to share credit with non-Humans, even if it weakens his bargaining position. Although he refused to see it, his best possible scenario would have been for me to attend, perhaps even with Captain Kirrahe from the STG. Shepard's story would have been substantiated by a member of each of the Council races, and therefore been difficult to dismiss."

"And you suspected the Council members because...?"

"They had the most to gain by preventing me from attending. Having House T'Soni publicly validate Shepard's claims about Sovereign and the upcoming Reaper invasion would be problematic for the Council to quietly deny. I was able to narrow which Council member down to you by the fact that neither Valern nor Sparatus would have colluded with Sha'ira. They could have asked her to detain me, certainly. However, they never would have attempted to work with Sha'ira to gain information about my relationship with Shepard, nor would they care."

"How did you know that we would reject Shepard's claim?"

Liara looked puzzled. "Because you actively worked to deny her my support. If you believed her, you would have been gratified for additional viewpoints and information, not trying to suppress them."

Tevos' bearing softened. "Benezia would have been proud."

Liara lowered her head. "No, she would not have been. She would have preferred that I fight." She looked back up at Tevos, "Now, if you would excuse me, I suspect that Shepard needs to talk to someone about the Council meeting."

"You may want to give her time to regain her composure. She was quite agitated when the session was adjourned."

Liara sadly shook her head. "Shepard deserves better than this from you, from all of you. No matter what you do to her, what barriers you place in her way, she will continue to do her duty. I just hope that you do not make her hate you for it."

Liara walked towards the door. When the reached the entryway, she turned to Sha'ira and gave a shallow bow, "Consort, my mother always spoke fondly of you. Your hospitality honors you and your home."

And then she was gone.

A/N: Assumptions here include:
FemShep/Liara (Not yet LI, but oh so close)
Later ME1 - after Feros, Noveria, Virmire and this is the 6th story of the Cari'ssi'mi series

Shepard is:
Colonist / Vanguard / War Hero

As always, feedback is welcome and desired.