The Two Big Ones

Chapter Four - Nikaha

The Uhura Residence, Africa, Earth

June 2263

Nyota

Spock was nibbling on her neck, his hands warm on her body. It was absolutely the best way in the world to wake up. She stretched against him, reveling in the feel of skin on skin. And then there was banging on the door and voices calling her. Thank goodness she had remembered to hook the latch last night! She rested her forehead against his for a brief moment and then rose from the bed, pulling on her robe as she headed for the door. "It will just take me a moment to make them be quiet." She called softly over her shoulder before unhooking the latch and cracking the door open. Unfortunately, her sisters had something entirely different in mind and laid their hands on her and pulled her through the door before she knew what was happening. One of them closed the door and the bedroom was silent again.

Spock

He raised himself up on one elbow to watch her lovely bottom as she moved towards the door. What happened next was totally unexpected. He heard her startled exclamation as her sisters pulled her into the hall and hurried her off, laughing. The door closed and he was alone. What had that been about? She did not feel worried or upset, in fact, she was laughing now, enclosed in loving arms. Apparently this was some family tradition that she had either forgotten about or not expected to happen to her. Well, then, he would rise and shower and go down to see if he could help with breakfast preparations. With this many people to feed, surely they could use some help, especially since all her sisters seemed to be bent on something else entirely.

***

He found himself peeling and dicing fruit - piles and piles of fruit. And then piling it in bowls and carrying them out to the tables in the yard. On his third trip out, he saw Nyota's father and brother struggling to put up a large awning over the tables. As soon as he set down the bowls, he went to help. And soon found other hands helping as well, as his father and Selek came to help as well, having observed what was happening from their seats on the porch.

With five sets of hands, the awning was quickly erected. It was larger than the area covered by the tables, so that, as the angle of the sun changed during the day, the tables would remain in the shade. It was an excellent idea, giving shade while still allowing the free circulation of air. When it was completed, he excused himself and went back to the kitchen, when he was laden down with baskets of bread, bowls of butter and jam, pitchers of juice, stacks of plates, piles of silverware -- a seeming unending number of things that needed to be carried outside. After the first few trips, he was joined by some of Nyota's male cousins, and then he passed McCoy coming out as he was going back in, and there in the kitchen was Jim, picking things up and heading outside.

Soon the tables were full of food and people were sitting down, filling plates. He looked around. Where was Nyota? She was here somewhere close, he could feel her, but he could not see her. He felt her laughter, there in the back of his mind. Do you not recognize me, love? His eyes swept the crowd again and there she was, seated in the middle of her sisters, surrounded by cousins, her hair entirely concealed inside some bright wrap, her body hidden neck to ankles and wrists by a flowing garment. He cocked his head and looked at her. She grinned back at him and shook her head, very slightly. Well, he guessed he would not be eating breakfast beside her today. He looked about and met McCoy's eyes, then headed in that direction. There was an empty seat there. He would eat with his shipmates. As he passed by, he was startled to see Selek, seated beside the same woman he had been talking to last night, an aunt of Nyota's. The other man did not even seem to see him at all, his whole attention on the attractive woman at his side. He would have to remember to discuss this with Nyota, when they were alone.

He sat with his friends and Nyota's cousins and ate and talked. And then they helped to clear the tables again. And now it was time to move all the tables, to stack them against the side of the house. And arrange the benches, in a pattern dictated by Nyota's father. And then a long truck pulled up by the house and men began to carry out baskets of flowers. Nyota's mother was there, with a diagram in her hands, telling them where to set each one. He stood back, in the shade of the house, watching. In the back of his mind, he could feel Nyota, happy. He did not understand what it was that her sisters and cousins were doing, but she was enjoying it.

At noon, food was spread over the table in the kitchen and people filled plates and wondered around, talking. The house was full of a constantly changing group of people. There was a constant buzz of pleasant noise. Somewhere in the background, someone was softly producing rhythms on a drum, the soft beats floating on the air. The air was full of the scent of flowers, with the fruit and breads and cheeses on the table blending in. It was heady.

Afterwards, Nyota's brother came, grinning, and took him away, confused. Her male cousins followed, laughing, drawing McCoy and Kirk along with them. Down the dusty path were he and Nyota had meant to run this morning they drew him, down into a grove of dusty trees, bending together to obscure the water shimmering there. When they reached the water, he found himself being stripped of his clothing and forced into the water. He was startled and confused, until he felt Nyota's presence, soothing. Didn't they tell you what they were going to do? It's tradition, ashayam, they don't mean any harm. And so he went along with it, not protesting. Apparently this was a ritual bath, to ensure that he went to her clean. He ducked his body in the cold water, adjusting his internal thermostat to compensate.

As soon as he was thoroughly wet, Nyota's brother advanced, holding out a large towel to wrap him in. And there were the cousins, with the clothing he was to wear. He needed some help in dressing, as he was unfamiliar with these garments. Kirk and McCoy were enjoying the whole thing, standing together and laughing. He would endure much more than this to make her happy.

When he was dressed in the bright clothing, baggy pants, long tunic, small cap, sandals, they stood back, looking him up and down. He turned about slowly, letting them observe him. They were nodding their heads. Yes, he would do. And then they were leading him away, keeping him always in the center of the group. And they came up to the awning, from the side away from the house, and arranged themselves there, in the very edge of the shade, and made him turn away, facing out over the countryside, and wait.

The drums were back, and there were other instruments now, lively and bright. He could hear people coming, seating themselves on the benches. He heard his father's voice, quiet, telling T'Pau what was happening. And then it was quiet. Nyota's brother tapped his arm and made a spinning motion with his hand and he turned about. The benches were set in rows, facing each other, so that there was an aisle down the middle, lined up with the door of the house. That door was open now. First came Nyota's cousins, all dressed in the same type of bright clothing, their arms bare except for bright bangles, their hair in tiny braids all over their heads, wrapped in the same bright cloth. They filed out, smiling and laughing and the drums began again, softly. They made a line, all the way from the door to the rows of benches. Next her male cousins left the group around him and lined up facing them.

Now her sisters came, down that living tunnel, and arranged themselves at the far end of the benches, her brother on the other side. When they were in their places, her parents came, joining her siblings. And then his father rose and went to stand with them. He was alone now, standing there. He felt the touch of his father's mind gently in his, come. So he went, and stood there, in the center of those gathered, and faced the house, waiting, his heart pounding. And now the other instruments began again, rushing, excited, building.

There she stood, in the doorway. She paused, just a moment, letting everyone see her there. And then she started forward, slowly, walking to the pace of the drumbeats. She was a vision of loveliness and he could not take his eyes from hers. She walked forward until she was standing just in front of him, looking up, her eyes so full of love. She reached out and took his hands in hers and he clasped hers gently, flooded with her love, everywhere.

The music stopped. Her father was speaking, but he could not concentrate on the words. His father said something, like the wind blowing in his ears. Her uncle came forward, with a book open in his hands and spoke words over them, asking them to repeat vows with him, to place their hands on the book. When the vows were finished he asked for the rings. He held them in his hands and blessed them. And there were more vows, then, said as the rings slid onto their fingers. Last he spoke a blessing over them and everyone was shouting and throwing their arms in the air and the music was wild and fast and exciting and she had tears trembling in her eyes. He lifted one finger and brushed the tears away, gently, leaning over to kiss her lightly on the forehead. This seemed to set off another round of shouting and waving. The air was full of happiness.

Suddenly she was tugging at him and heading down that aisle, towards the house. He followed along, willingly, picking up the pace as she moved faster and faster, until they were almost running when they entered the house.

"Come on, hurry, hurry!" She was laughing now. Up the stairs and into her room and latch the door. And then she was in his arms, close against him, laughing and kissing his face. And outside, everyone was laughing and shouting and banging things in a great uproar. Puzzled he bent his face to her, but she was already whispering to him. Surely they did not expect that! But she was grinning wildly at him, very emphatic.

"Nyota! That would be very improper!"

But she was tugging at his clothing, pulling him toward the bed. She was definitely not accepting his refusal. Then they were tumbling on the bed and all was heat and warm skin and love. It did not take very long at all before she was gasping and clutching at him, her legs locked about his hips, her back arched up in ecstasy as he flooded her with his heat, his love.

She sighed, so happy, and nuzzled against him, just for a few minutes. All too soon they were helping each other to dress again. Somehow it seemed to take longer than it had originally. It must be all the touching and sighing. And she unlatched the door and led him back outside. As they came through the door onto the porch, there was a great outcry - laughing and shouting and clapping of hands. He stood startled beside her as she smiled and laughed.

While they had been inside, even through all the noise that had been generated, somehow, the benches had been rearranged and the tables brought back under the awning. And now the food was coming out again. She tugged him along to the table in the very center, where their parents and her siblings and T'Pau and Selek sat. There were two places vacant there, side by side, and they seated themselves there. That seemed to be what everyone was waiting for, because immediately the bowls and platters of food began to be passed around the tables.

The feasting went on for quite some time, until no one could possible eat another bite. And then everyone was up and the tables were once again being carried off. The benches were arranged all around the edge of the awning and people sat again. And now the musicians came out and seated themselves in one corner and began to play again. And the people began to dance. Spock watched fascinated, as the bodies twisted and turned, arms raised overhead, faces laughing. He had seen Nyota dance like this, many times. Her sisters came and pulled her out into the center and danced in a ring around her, while she twisted and turned and laughed, so full of joy.

He was startled when her brother and cousins came and pulled him out into the midst of the dancing women. He could not do this. But what they were doing was different. He watched as they simulated battle, lunging and jumping. That he could certainly do. And so he leapt and spun and his arms and legs flashed and everyone yelled and clapped and stomped their feet. Suddenly he was face to face with her, there in the middle. And somehow he knew what he was to do, stomping his feet and circling her, closer and closer, as she twisted and turned before him. He felt her there, in the back of his mind, so delighted, feeding him instructions. They moved until they were so close together, their bodies moving, almost touching, their faces so close. And the music rushed, louder and faster, and then stopped so suddenly, and she was in his arms, laughing. The noise around them was overpoweringly loud, full of joy. Her brother was there beside him, teeth flashing in a wide smile and her sisters came and tugged at them, bringing them to the seats reserved for them.

They sat there beside each other, recovering from the dancing. When she had caught her breath, he reached over and grasped her hands, to see what it was that he had seen as she danced. All over her palms were designs, red against her skin. She smiled at his astonishment. "It's henna. They did the soles of my feet, too." He quirked his eyebrow at her, letting her know that he wanted to see this as well, but she only laughed, and whispered "later".

The dancing and merriment went on for hours. At irregular intervals, they would come and drag them back out into the center, to dance again. And every time that happened, his desire for her grew, until he was having great difficulties in subduing it. Eventually he caught the thought she was trying to hide from him and turned to her in astonishment. Her eyes twinkled with glee and she bent closer to him, whispering. "It's supposed to inflame you, ashayam. They are betting on how long it will take you to break."

And so he stood and picked her up and flung her across his shoulder and marched across the yard and into the house, to the whoops and hollers and clapping hands and stomping feet. And carried her straight to her room, latching the door before dumping her on the bed, laughing and grinning at him.

________

Nikaha = marriage