Sarek and Dansk
Chapter Twenty-nine
Everyone but Sarek's immediate family was present for First Meal. So'lin had come and transported T'Paal to the dining room. She had T'Paal and So'lin seated with her as well as Sirin and Lo'vaak and their bondmates. Kov and Xon had taken over the supervision of the children. Jason was seated with Scoon and Michele, his bondmate presently pregnant with a female child. Jason had certainly filed the empty space that the loss of his unborn son had created. There was a deep bond between the two of them. At the end of the meal the group filed out and returned to their respective dormitories to await the time of the joining. At fourteen hundred hours Nyota, Rachel and Christine came to Dansk to start preparing her for the ceremony. They were later joined by Bettie, Laura and Ellie. It was a time for 'earth girls' to do their thing which included nails, skin, and hair.
Spock, Sirin and Lo'vaak would stand with Sarek. T'Paal would bring Dansk into the room carrying her cowl. Nyota, Rachel and Christine would stand opposite the mates. The entire bridal party would be dressed in formal Vulcan robes and T'Pau would be wondrous in her robes of state. No changes in the appearance of the dining room would be made until Second Meal was over.
By Second Meal, Spock had returned to his family. He sent to Nyota,
'All is well.'
Once in the house he called Xon and Kov to him and asked,
"Did you two understand what your _grandfather meant when he took you aside to speak with you two?"
As usual, Kov spoke first,
"We do understand that our IKo'mehk-el is a great leader and that he has a commanding presence. We also understand that his mother is a grand female with much authority."
Xon then asked,
"Ko'mehk, how does that affect us?"
Spock asked both of them to individually recite their full names. He then recited his and then spoke,
"My sons, the Matt (clan) S'chn Tgai is the most ancient and prominent clan of the Vulcan people. We are direct blood descendants of Surak, the leader and founder of The Vulcan Way. We come from a long line of those who have served the needs of our people in various ways, but particularly in government and education. T'Pau my somehk-el is a high official in both the High Council and Committee, one of only three permanent member and the only female to have such a position. My ko'mehk, Sarek, is Vulcan Ambassador for the Federation of Planets. When Sarek advises me that it is time for me to train to take his robes of office, we will all go to live on New Vulcan. It has already been determined by T'Pau that both of you will jointly take up the position of Ambassador from me. It is because of your ancestry, ytour clan and your house that my father spoke of you both in reference to your inheritance of greatness that you are being trained to eventually fulfill. This puts our family under constant scrutiny, as others examine us to see if we uphold and reflect the very best of The Vulcan Way. Nyota was standing in the doorway, holding Kares* and listened as her husband spoke these words as fact and not with a hint of pride and she was grateful that through child bearing she had been able to contribute to the greatness of Spock's family.
Nyota had advised Zane to have James contact her as soon as possible and as she walked towards her kitchen her personal com rang. She conveyed Sarek's message to James who totally lost his composure. He was advised that three holo-pics would be allowed with one of the newly bonded couple to be placed on their wedding announcement page. Of course, Nyota explained this was for Dansk benefit because Vulcans needed no holo-pic to be able to remember, even to the smallest detail every event of their lives.
James thought to himself,
'Sarek was indeed a man…No, a Vulcan of his word. James then corrected himself, for a Vulcan there could be no other way. Nyota then informed James and Spock would lend him a robe and she would do likewise for Zane for they were considered guest of Sarek and T'Pau. James got ready to verbalize…'These Vulcans sure know how to throw a party' and thought better of it.
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At the promised time Rachel, Ellie, Bettie, Laura, and Nyota all descended on the house that Dansk was in. Laura had contacted Nyota and asked if she could bring Zane and it was allowed. The women came with their baskets of creams, lotions, bath perfumes, curlers, a hair dryer, hair ornaments and other items deemed necessary for the tasks at hand, They had decided that they would first have tea and while enjoying it they heard a knock on the door and the necessary indentification.
"It is I, T'Pau along with T'Paal."
Solin had piloted them to the location and stood quietly waiting for their entrance into the location. Nyota went to the door and T'Pau swept in with her robes billowing about her. T'Paal was bringing up the rear. Once the door closed, Solin left to return to the dining room.
When T'Pau entered all the women stood and with a gesture requested that they all return to their seats. Standing next to Nyota she said,
"I have come to observe the transformation of my daughter from Terran too Vulcan, will this be satisfactory?"
Nyota thought, very few were in a position to denied T'Pau anything. Instead of a verbal reply Nyota went and got her grandmother a seat, Rachel secured one for T'Paal. Once seated T'Pau said,
"You need not think that this sort of curiosity is an experience only for Terran females. Although the only one I was witness to was my own I have desired to view this event not as a nervous participant, but as a curious observer. Rachel handed Dansk a basket of scrubs, sponges, oils and lotions and took her shoulders and led her to the bathroom. In this settlement and in any area where the Vulcan Way ruled supreme, that word was a misnomer, for a Vulcan to consider himself cleansed he took a shower, not immersing himself in water wasteful used in bathtub where the waters would show evidence of his original unclean state. Even if a Vulcan went to the therapeutic baths he would shower before entry even into those waters.
That whole mind set gave evidence of the Vulcans' sense of economy, use what is needed, no more. So as the females, waited for Dansk's reveal after her invigorating shower, T'Pau and T'Paal joined the others as they silently drank their tea. Once they had finished their tea Nyota spoke,
"We are honored by your present, Great Mother."
What, Nyota could recognize as a Vulcan smile was shining in T'Pau's eyes She then said, "My presence here is as female family member with a deal of interest in what is occurring here. My remembrance of my experience bringing My Beloved through 'The Fires'. Nyota discreetly looked towards Zane, who still was demonstrating signs of extreme awe in the presence of the Great Mother. Sensing Nyota's concern T'Pau sent,
'If questioned about the fires, substitute the word passion.'
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By this time delightful scents were seeping out from the bathroom and finally Dansk made her entrance in her terry cloth robe. Her waist length hair was towel dried. Nyota wondered if in it's wet condition if it was indeed heavy. She recalled that the hair style she wore to her bonding gave her a headache and Spock dismantled the beautiful creation when he realized it was causing her a great deal of discomfort.
Nyota, the only other Terran female with long tresses, took it upon herself to comb out Dansk heavy wavy hair. After about an hour, Dansk hair shown like black silk, cascading down her back. Nyota had an idea but had to confer with T'Pau,
"Great Mother, would it go against Vulcan tradition for Dansk to wear part of her hair up, festooned with jeweled pins and the rest of it remaind down?"
T'Pau, appeared to like the role of fashion consultant and approached Dansk and took her face in her hand and said,
"Thee will pleasure my son's eyes any way thy hair is styled."
The final inspection was approved by T'Pau and the other females and then these left to get dressed for the ceremony.
T'Pau and T'Paal both knelt to meditate and when Dansk rose to join them T'Pau said,
"Quiet contemplation while seated in thy chair will spare your finery from possible creases."
Dansk smiled and said,
"Thank you Dear Mother."
T'Pau's response was typically Vulcan, she nodded her head.
*Kares is Spock and Nyota's third son. Some time ago I asked if anyone could determine the source of his name-just one taker. So here is the answer:
KERAS=SAREK
Botsey