Alekhine's Gun

Chapter 23

There were no angelic cherubs singing. There were no great aisles to walk down. The bride didn't even wear white.

They broke every traditional human marriage custom in their bonding. In fact, the only thing they had was a city of San Francisco official, and Sa'taan.

The official held the documents they needed to sign to verify their union with the Federation, and Sa'taan, of course, was there to perform the telan, and bond them.

Sarek had granted her request to marry in the botanical gardens: it was a place that was special for both of them, so it was where they chose to bond. The entire affair lasted no longer than thirty minutes.

Amanda wore a light, gold-colored silken wrap dress with long sleeves. Sarek had donned a blue-green floor-length robe with a high neck.

T'Nerual, Silek and Sakketh witnessed for Sarek, while Dr. Templeton had offered to give Amanda away. In fact, when she'd told John she was getting married, and to whom, he'd grinned and exclaimed, "I knew it all along!"

She had laughed at his declaration.

"You aren't surprised I'm marrying a Vulcan?" she'd asked.

"Not at all. I'm surprised the Vulcan is marrying you," Templeton had joked, earning a jab from Amanda.

"Hey! I'm not that bad!"

"No, you aren't. But now your Vulcan has come and is about to steal you away from us," he'd said, calming down a little.

"Oh, John. Don't think of it that way. Think of this as an extended experiment in Human-Vulcan inter-cultural relations."

"Yes. Well," he cleared his throat and stood up a little straighter, looking down at her over the top of his glasses. "Judging from the size of your ring and the smile that's been on your face these last few months, I've no doubt you'll be fine. Now, who's going to give you away?"

Amanda's happiness increased exponentially when she discovered that Dr. Templeton had brought a surprise guest to the ceremony.

"Drew!"

Right before they were about to enter the garden, Amanda looked up to see, standing next to Templeton, her former aide-and friend.

Drew had left her earlier that year, to head to Starfleet and the way they parted was bittersweet. He had professed to having feeling for her- even going so far to ask her on a date- but she had refused then, honestly believing she'd never see Drew again.

But the fact that he was here now spoke volumes to her.

Sarek and the rest of the Vulcans looked on while she ran up to him and engulfed him in a hug.

"Hey, Mandy!" He smiled at her. "I hope you don't mind me crashing the party, but I just had to be here to see you getting hitched. Ambassador Sarek's a lucky Vulcan."

"And I'm a lucky woman to have friends like you two." It was so corny, but the sentiment was entirely real.

Together they turned and made their way to join the Vulcan party at the entrance to the gardens.

.

.

Now, secluded in a quiet corner and surrounded by all kinds of exotic flora, Amanda and Sarek were preparing to bond.

Sa'taan rose and made his way to them.

"Kneel," he instructed quietly; they obeyed, and Sarek stuck out his arm for her to take. She took it and her eyes slipped closed as Sa'taan placed one hand on the side of her face, the other, on Sarek's.

In her mind, she could hear Sa'taan's voice, like a warm buzz, chanting softly. The colors that had been dancing around her mindscape went dark—and she felt, saw and thought nothing. It was black.

In the next moment though, the colors returned with an explosion of light behind her eyes in a spectrum- each buzzing and humming with vibrancy.

Amanda? She turned to Sarek and opened her eyes. He was looking at her but had not spoken.

Sarek? She opened her mouth to speak but he raised his finger to her lips and silenced her.

I am here.

You're here! In my mind! She smiled against his finger as they rose, both still silent but carrying on a conversation.

And then, she felt a myriad of emotions.

Love. Joy. Happiness. Relief.

His, not hers, but then, hers too as she fed them back to him and they were both caught in a happy buzz.

"Why are they just looking at each other like that? He doesn't look too thrilled about having just gotten married," Drew leaned over and whispered to Dr. Templeton.

Silek, overhearing, interjected. "We do not show our emotions, but they exist. I can assure you, both Sarek and Amanda are pleased."

The two figures who were the topic of conversation were oblivious to the exchange. Sarek reached out his hand to take two of Amanda's fingers in his.

What's this? She asked as her hand began to grow warm and tingle at his touch.

You asked once, how Vulcan's kissed. Sarek's eyes never left her face, and his lips never moved. But the tingle began to grow warmer as it traveled from the tips of her fingers, up her arm…and began cause her body to heat up.

Oh. Amanda looked at their connected fingers.

Indeed.

"Oh…" The expression slipped through her lips and came out as a breathy moan that Sarek quickly picked up.

"Indeed…" Hesaid as he leaned over to whisper the word in her ear.

.

.

The newly bonded couple had chosen to stay at Amanda's apartment. They had decided it would be their second home on Earth, for which Amanda was grateful. She liked the sense of home they'd enjoyed here since the deepening of their relationship. They had made many pleasant memories here. As Sarek was presently serving as Vulcan Ambassador to Earth, they would remain here for some time, and when they began the frequent travels necessitated by his position, Amanda would accompany him. This apartment, with its view that she loved, with those of her things that would remain behind, would be a touchstone to remind them of their beginning.

Still, they would need to travel to Vulcan soon.

Sarek had been called back to his home planet by his mother and Sa'taan had traveled with him.

Amanda would go the next week.

II

VULCAN

Sarek stood before the Council. Although his face was calm, inwardly he seethed. His hands trembled under his heavy Vulcan robes, but the mask of logic he wore betrayed nothing. Finally, the council stopped long enough to question him directly.

"It was logical." Following the brisk retort with a bow, Sarek turned and left the council chambers to attend to T'Pau.

Facing the Council, although most unpleasant, was infinitely more tolerable than dealing with his mother. Sarek felt her indignation long before he saw her physical countenance. Indeed, this should prove most interesting…

He took the flitter across the red sands to the rocky peaks of Mount Tarhana and strode up the stone steps to Na'nam-Kir. The citadel was a part of the family compound, and now served as T'Pau's primary residence as he had inherited the fortress upon his father's death. He pushed the heavy, black thlaxx doors open and entered a long, dark hall, illuminated by torchlight.

He began walking toward the inner chamber where he knew he would find her.

"Sarek!" His name came out as a hiss laced in a low growl as it echoed through the halls of the citadel, carrying so much weight that it was dark and choking. It hit Sarek's mental shields like a storm cloud, engulfing him. The hair on the nape of his neck stood on end, and violent emotions-not his own-coursed through his body. He stepped forward into the formal room that held his mother.

"A human."

She didn't even turn to face him, and did not speak the words aloud but the implication and disapproval were clear. He waited silently, not answering, until she finally turned to face him. The small number of staff had quickly exited at his entrance, leaving mother and son alone.

.

.

T'Pau appraised him eyes as he stood before her. I have taught him well, she mused to herself as her steely eyes evaluated her son. His posture was straight and his gaze, defiant, unapologetic and daring.

She had borne two sons, though there was never any question of who her successor would be. Silek had long ago demonstrated his disinterest in taking up his father's-and then his mother's-post. But Sarek…

He was just as strong, yet possessed a mind that was as dangerous as it was brilliant.

Her dark, discerning eyes met identical ones as she looked upon his face. She could tell by his stance that he would not back down. And so, after an extended silence, she turned away from him and issued her final words.

"You are first-born and you have been sealed. I cannot deny your birthright. But she cannot be one of us and she will not be. You can keep her, but do not disgrace yourself with that human in our presence. Leave me."

Without a word, Sarek turned and strode out of the great hall-the only outward sign of his anger the sound of his feet on the stone floor reverberating around the expansive walls and the powerful slam of the doors that pained her ears upon his exit.

T'Pau turned in the opposite direction, moving swiftly through the hall, her robes billowing behind her. Though she was angry at her son, she did not show it.

She worried more so for her child's sake than the human's. This girl was weak and T'Pau felt certain she would not survive past his Time. But there was nothing she could do-they were bonded.

Kaiidth-What is, is. She would have to wait-and pray he did not die in the flames. For the human could not possibly survive, and there would certainly be no offspring from the union.

Her only consolation lay in the fact that Silek and T'Nerual had conceived, but if that child, too, followed in the ways of his or her parents…

With a pang in her chest, the matriarch settled down in the solace of her meditation chamber. The incense slowly filled her nostrils as the spark cast into the firepot began to cast a warm glow about the room.

Sarek had already lost so much and she did not believe his psyche could sustain yet another blow. But it was not her choice. But when and not if, this loss occurred, she must be prepared to act.

Her progeny or not, her station required decisions. Logic often ran counter to one's emotions.

She would not back down from her position.

From behind her, Sa'taan emerged from the shadow.

"Let'thieri, ko-eik-te 'krusu. Dungau-gazh, rish-tor."

III

Sarek zipped along the Vulcan desert with Amanda by his side in the flitter. The sun had long since disappeared from the sky and it was nearly dark. Amanda looked out the windows of the hovercraft as it headed north away from the terminal. Smaller buildings began to dot the landscape once they cleared the city. They were beautiful homes. Family compounds, Sarek had called them. They were all done in stone-whites, reds, browns, tans. The colors of Vulcan, and each home seemed to blend into the harsh desert world around them. They reminded Amanda of the open floor plans of ancient Rome when man still believed in Gods.

They drove for another hour as the last streak of purple faded from the sky and it the sky turned completely black. The stars were just making their first appearances, and the Mountains stretching across the distance stood like dark silhouettes against the plain before them. In the distance, Amanda could make out two lights, and, as they flew, the lights began to grow larger. She focused her eyes.

Soon, the flitter slowed to a stop. They had arrived at a large, obviously very old, and very heavy, gate. On either side were two torches-the lights she'd seen in the distance. The gate was massive, rising to the sky. Two walls projected in either direction for as far as Amanda's limited night vision allowed her to see. Sarek entered a code into the pad at the entrance and the gates began to open. He steered the hovercraft between the, and they entered into a circular drive. Amanda stepped out of the car and looked up.

Her eyes widened in amazement as she stared at what could only be described as a fortress or a castle. The structure seemed to be a blend the two done in the distinct style of ancient Vulcan. It was sharp and angled, swooping and yet imposing. Massive stones made up the exterior, weather-worn from what seemed like centuries of use. It loomed large against the night sky, casting the area around it into complete blackness. It was unlike any other compound she had seen. Suddenly, Amanda felt very, very small. Sarek motioned for her to follow him inside…

It was a combination of ancient and modern. Amanda instantly felt out of place. She saw banners, hung high from rafters towering above her head. There was a creature, cat-like and terrifying, embroidered in colors of blue-green and gold. They were standing in a long hall. Sarek stopped and turned to face her in the torch-lit space, the flames flicking shadows across his face. She knew immediately that Sarek had not told her everything. She had not married an ambassador, he was something more. And as she gazed at her handsome husband, she felt another shiver. She wasn't sure she wanted to know much more.

"Welcome home, Amanda," Sarek's voice, even in whisper, rumbled through the hall, echoing off the walls. Amanda saw a group of Vulcans emerge from the end of the all. They walked up to them and in a smooth motion that left Amanda speechless, bowed, to the human and the Vulcan standing in the hall before stepping back, and walking off.

It was quite a long while before Amanda found her voice. "Sarek, wha…" Amanda's gaze held his, questioning, nervous, wary. Sarek didn't want to be the cause of his wife's uncomfortable feelings and quickly glanced away. He felt the question forming in her head before it escaped her mouth.

"I am Sarek, son of Skonn in the House of Surak". He stood before her, hands clasped behind his back, head lowered in deference to her. "T'Pau is my mother." T'Pau. Amanda, like most of the federation, knew the name-T'Pau was the only person to ever turn down a council seat. Every history book included her. She was almost mythical. One person had once described her as "All of Vulcan in one place."

It was what Sarek didn't say that caught her attention the most.

All of Vulcan in one place…

Sa-te 'kru. The title felt strange on her tongue as she grappled with the truth.

Not to you. You are my mate. I am yours.

Amanda raised her eyebrow at him and crossed her arms, her foot tapping.

You are displeased?

She pressed her lips into a straight line and began walking to the first set of stairs that she saw, Sarek following behind her.

I see I haven't shown you exactly how I feel about certain secrets you keep.

This time, his eyebrow quirked at the sashay of her hips in front of him.

Indeed, my wife? I am…open to your suggestions.

The sound of Amanda's laughter filled the great hall.

-THE END-

Author's Note: Chapter Edited by SpockLikesCats. This marks the end of this story. I know it isn't quite a fairytale- I didn't want it to be. My interpretation is my own, and not the work of anyone else. I don't beg for reviews, so I value everyone who has taken the time to leave me a note. Thank you for the positive feedback and for the constructive criticism. And for those of you in the armed forces, I thank you. Happy Veterans' Day (SpockLikesCats- that's a special one for you).