Chapter 43: The Fire Festival

A/N: Wow! Thanks for all the reviews! So happy that you're enjoying this fanfic which is already…eight months old! While many situations in this fanfic occurred completely spontaneously, I'm glad I drew up a general plot outline with the main plot lines and ending, otherwise we'd all be lost!

Alaya Karangalan, thanks for your great review! There's even a long-haired Romulan in the upcoming Picard series! He looks a bit elven. A Romulan Legolas of sorts? I wouldn't mind borrowing Commander Donatra's uniform and showing up for business meetings in it :-D And yes, Thorek is very protective about Asha. As is Vekal about Christine, as you'll see in this chapter…

romulanlover, great point about reproduction and how women are too often forced to bear the brunt in the fertility department. I agree that the Romulans are probably very different where (in)fertility is concerned. I'm also glad that you view the situation between Christine and Asha as realistic.

SatineGrindelwald, thank you very much for your comment and welcome on board! Feel free to join Team Tosha, Vreesha or…Vrosha? :-) Letant and Vreenak are such fun to add layers to. They each appeared just once for only a few minutes in DS9. They managed to carry the episode and at the same time, they left a lot of imagination fodder to us fanfic writers :-D

Hi Guest, welcome on board, too, and so happy you're enjoying! Thanks for your kind words!

Story note: I invented the Firebird event after hearing some fireworks go off last night :-)


After Asha's visit, Christine began to ignore Asha's messages altogether and stopped visiting or inviting her, and Asha gave up their friendship for lost. She hadn't told Thorek about Christine referring to her as a slut and a whore. She knew that Thorek would be outraged, and she didn't want to add fuel to the quiet but smouldering fire between herself and Christine.

Vekal continued behaving normally towards her, something she greatly appreciated. When she asked him how Christine was doing, he said she had gone to the neighbouring province to get the opinion of a fifth specialist on reproductive health. Asha thought it was exaggerated, especially since Christine had enjoyed holding forth about accepting the inevitable and making the best of a bad situation, but she didn't say anything. She was not in Christine's shoes. Who was she to judge?

"I myself consulted two specialists to gain an overview of my own fertility status, but all was fine, from sperm count to ejaculation speed and range."

Asha blinked and managed to hang on to her serious expression. "It sounds like they did, uh, a very thorough job."

She refrained from asking how the specialists had obtained the last results. She truly didn't want to imagine Vekal with his pants down in the middle of producing a sperm sample. Vekal noticed, however.

"My apologies for making you uncomfortable with such details," he offered.

"Thanks. As much as I appreciate your trust in me, I think that such things should stay between you and Christine," she said frankly. "I know that Romulans speak very openly about intimate matters to their loved ones, but I do find it a bit too much sometimes."

"Understood," Vekal said. "Though sex and sex-related matters are like eating, drinking or breathing."

"Not necessarily. You need the last three to survive."

"You need the first for the population to survive," Vekal countered.

"Yes, but unlike the Vulcans, who need to mate every seven years, we are not forced to mate," Asha quipped. She almost added that she thought Christine was behaving with a single-mindedness like a Vulcan obsessed with their pon farr, but she knew that Vekal would not take at all kindly to such a personal comment about his wife.

"There are alternatives to mating, after all. Sperm banks, oocyte cryopreservation or ectogenesis. Repopulation can take place without mating or a natural womb being involved. On Earth, mating has shifted towards being an act of pleasure rather than a means of reproduction," Asha added.

"As you know, those options are unavailable for Christine and myself," Vekal replied patiently, though she noticed a flash of irritation in his eyes.

"So, are you all set for Eitreih'Okhala?" she asked. Vekal smiled slightly at her sudden change of topic.

"Yes. We have plans to visit the Firebird event and spend a few days at a love spa."

"Thorek and I will be attending the Firebird festival, too! Maybe we could all go together? Oh, no…" Her face fell. "I guess Christine won't be that pleased if I'm around. It's better if we go separately. And to Mirek next year, too."

She looked so downhearted that Vekal patted her cheek.

"Now, you're looking too far ahead in the future. Let's see what time brings."

She nodded.


"Still nothing from Christine?" Thorek asked gently, seeing her sad expression after Vekal left. She shook her head. "Nothing. I should have known after she called me a-" she stopped.

"What did she call you?" Thorek asked, frowning.

She bit her lip. "It's not important."

"Asha, what did she call you?" Thorek insisted.

"Nothing," she murmured.

"Asha," Thorek refused to give up, taking her hand in his.

"She called me a slut and a whore," Asha finally admitted.

Thorek's eyes blazed. "I will strangle her," he growled.

"No! That's why I didn't tell you-"

"Did she insult you because you love two men, Asha?"

Asha was very upset. "Yes," she said.

"I did tell you that you would develop feelings for Vreenak." His voice was gentle, and he caressed her hand.

"I don't know why. I love you and I love him. It doesn't make any sense to me!"

"It makes sense to me," Thorek said quietly. "Do you wish to mate with him?"

"Yes. So much for unmatable. And he doesn't know. I don't want to ever tell him." She began to cry. Thorek pulled her gently against him.

"What is stopping you, e'lev?"

"Christine already regards me as a slut! And what will you think? And Vekal? Kihika? Rhian? All our friends? They'll know even if I'm silent. Word gets around. As for Vreenak, won't I be cheap in his eyes if I share his bed, a married Human woman? It feels like a crime, and I feel so dirty and greedy. I'll feel cheap in my own eyes. I love you! Why can't it be enough?"

Thorek smiled. "Is it not a gift to have a heart generous enough to love the way you love? I have loved the same way myself. It didn't last, as you know, but I have no regrets. Ashaya, by loving another, it doesn't have to mean that you automatically stop loving your mate. I have faith in your love. I trust you."

"Then I am not a slut?"

The anger returned to Thorek's eyes. "No, of course you are not! I will be having a word with her! After all, her husband had the audacity to pay you a visit when you quarrelled the first time."

"Thorek, there's really no need, this is completely different, and it will only make things worse."

She needed almost twenty minutes to get him to relent; and when he did so, it was only reluctantly.


The Firebird event consisted of a huge bonfire combined with pyrotechnics in the shape of a raptor lit in the middle of the capital. People from other provinces were travelling to see it. It was a work of art, and around the time Asha's book was published, the construction of a gigantic wooden bird was started. Asha had dedicated a poem in her book to this event, too, and while she had not attended the Firebird event, she had described the ambience, merriment and traditions of the festival.

Finally, when the day of the event arrived, Asha wore one of her Indian outfits, including her bangles and anklets. Orange was all the rage during the days of celebration, and she blended into the crowd perfectly despite her non-Romulan dress. Thorek was wearing dark-red robes. Kihika and Vereth were celebrating with their respective families, and Lilou was left at home to hold the fort, a duty she did with great pride and enthusiastic waggling of her enormous fluffy ears.

The stands were already quite full when Asha and Thorek arrived, and completely packed when it was time for the festival to start. Asha actually gave a little hop with excitement when two Romulans approached the wooden construction of the raptor on either side, flaming torches in their hands. Thorek smiled. Despite his criticism of many aspects of the Romulan Empire, he was a proud Romulan, and it was deeply gratifying to him that Asha was attending such an important event and doing so with such enthusiasm.

The audience hooted loudly when the raptor burst into flames. The tongues of the flames soared into the sky and exploded with loud bangs. A shower of sparks rained down upon the arena and dissolved with a sizzling sound before hitting the ground. It was a show of half an hour, colourful, noisy and dramatic. After the end, the huge raptor was left to burn slowly throughout the night.

Hungry, Asha and Thorek visited the food stalls. After eating a big plate of seafood, they got ready to leave. On their way to the flitter, however, they bumped into none other than Vekal and Christine. There was an awkward silence for a few moments, especially since Christine began to frown as soon as she saw Asha.

Asha, however, greeted them in her usual courteous manner, and Vekal greeted her and Thorek affectionately as always. Thorek offered Christine a curt nod, a crisp "Jolan'tru" and maintaining a rather large distance between the two of them. Christine looked uncomfortable, because while Thorek's manner was frosty, his eyes were smouldering with irritation.

They were able to bridge the discomfort by chatting about the Firebird. Finally, Christine said pointedly: "Well, it's time that we left, my deyhhan."

"Yes, it is rather late," Vekal said. Asha, distracted by a colourful little lizard clinging to a tree, bent to have a closer look.

"Move," Christine snapped, trying to elbow Asha aside. Thorek immediately intervened and took Asha's hand in his, shoving Christine so she stumbled.

"How dare you! Don't even think of insulting my wife again!" he hissed. Christine knew better than to argue with a furious Romulan, and she quickly backed off. Vekal, however, was just as angry, and he approached Thorek. "And what do you think you're doing?" he growled, wrapping an arm around Christine.

"Your wonderfully mannered wife," Thorek glared at her, then back at Vekal, "just tried to push Asha out of the way with her elbow. What kind of behaviour is that?"

"Did you try to push Christine out of the way first?" Vekal asked Asha harshly.

"No, I didn't do anything. I was looking at the lizard." She pointed. The lizard, as if sensing the bad vibes between the two couples, rushed up the tree. "It was you who tried to push me first!" Asha said calmly, looking at Christine.

"Get away from me, you whore!" Christine hissed at Asha. People were turning their heads to stare at them. Thorek and Vekal were glaring at each other.

Asha looked at the three of them and stepped in the middle.

"Stop, please! Now!" They refocused their attention on her.

"Thorek, Vekal," she reached out and took one of their hands each in hers, "this is a misunderstanding between you," she looked at Christine, "and me. Maybe I wasn't there for you when you would have liked to speak with me, and maybe you expected me to read your mind when I couldn't. But I won't have this spilling over onto all four of us. This quarrel is between us, not you two." She pressed Thorek and Vekal's hands, "and hopefully not between you and me, my eneh." She locked eyes with Vekal, who lowered his head in embarrassment.

"No, paenhe," he said softly. "Please forgive me."

She nodded, let go of his hand and turned to Thorek.

"Come, my deyhhan. Let's leave. Bye," she said to Christine and Vekal. They went, holding hands.

"I'm sorry, e'lev," Thorek whispered, stopping to kiss his wife's hair.

"For what? You defended me. You didn't leave my side. You get a big thank you for that." She smiled at him.

"Defending you is natural," he said, drawing his upswept brows together. "A Romulan will always defend a loved one! As you did when you intervened between Vekal and me."

They got into their flitter, and Asha studied her bangles. "Do you think she'll always be angry with me?" she murmured.

"Oh, Ashaya…Only time will tell. It is up to Christine to sort it out. She has behaved so poorly, however, that I have my doubts."

"Yes, as do I. Well, the bottom line is that I had a fantastic evening with you." Her eyes sparkled. "It was unforgettable!"


Senator Merken tr'Vreenak was practically obliged to attend the Firebird event in his role as an important statesman. He had seen it year after year, but it never failed to fascinate him. He could hardly get a word in when Asha shared her enthusiasm about the event with him.

"I love Eitreih'Okhala. It's so vibrant and passionate. It incorporates everything about Romulans and Romulus."

"Indeed. The love spas tend to be overbooked around this time. Eitreih'Okhala is said to be auspicious for marriages and starting a family. The statistics certainly show a spike."

Asha raised her eyebrows. "You've got love spa statistics?"

Vreenak's mouth quirked. "Now, we wouldn't go that far. What we do have are the dates of conception, as medical and hospital information is available to certain bodies of the state."

"I'm not surprised. You even know about the state of my ovaries," Asha snorted.

"True."

She suddenly looked at him with alarm. Vreenak raised his eyebrows.

"Praetor Neral doesn't know, does he?"

Vreenak actually laughed. "It is extremely unlikely that he does."

"Good. It would be very embarrassing. To me."

Their eyes locked, and when they refused to look away, they both blushed.

"And your visits to my residence and the time spent in my company, are they embarrassing to you, too?"

It took a big effort for Asha to hold his gaze, but she did it. "No, never. Why do you ask?"

"Our time together is very similar to what a courting couple does," Vreenak said directly. "Alone together, spending time in quiet spaces where no one can disturb us, speaking about poetry and just about anything that slips into our conversation…What are your husband's thoughts on this?"

Asha moistened her lips, and Vreenak's eyes narrowed slightly at how alluring it looked, thought she was unaware of its effect.

"Thorek has encouraged me to explore love, including physical love, with another mate if I so wish. We have had several discussions about it. He tells me that he and I married by force, and so I should be able to choose freely, especially because he is my first mate. But I tell him that we grew to love each other without force. We agree on that. But he thinks I should have the possibility to explore as much as I did, as your people seek out several mates before agreeing on a bond for life. But I think that's unimportant."

"I see. And how do you feel about me?"

Asha's eyes grew bright with tears. "Must you ask?" she said almost angrily.

"Yes. I must ask," he insisted, his eyes hardening.

"Then I ask the same question of you," she retorted.

"I will be on a political campaign for three weeks from coming Monday onwards. I have no wish to force you into an answer. I am not giving you an ultimatum, but a possibility to think about what you truly wish for. I would be grateful if you could provide me with a clear answer. It would ease my mind. And I ask another thing of you."

Asha nodded, managing to control her tears.

"I ask you not to play hot and cold games with me."

"No. Never. We already came to that conclusion some time ago."

"We did, and I kissed you like this, Asha." He pressed his lips softly against her forehead. "And I already know my answer to your question, but I prefer to wait for yours before I share it with you."

Asha laughed a little. "You are truly a politician, Merken," she said. "Very strategic. May I keep in touch with you while you are away?"

"Like the last time, I will initiate contact with you."

"Okay. Travel safely, Merken."

She put her arms around him, and he responded. As he drew back, he brushed her neck, considered one of the most erogenous parts by Romulans, with the knuckles of his hand. It was a discreet courting gesture for Romulan standards, and Asha recognised it as such. She reacted by offering him her arm, which was against protocol due to his seniority and status. Vreenak smiled at her boldness and took it, impressed by how she could hold her own even when she was backed into a corner.

As soon as she got home, Asha told Thorek about her conversation with Vreenak. Thorek listened quietly. Then he said: "It was high time, Ashaya."

"You are so calm about it. I mean…I guess that other Romulans or even back on Earth, people would hit the roof."

"It's because I am very confident and have no doubts where we are concerned."

"I think I'd feel very uncomfortable and jealous if another woman came into your life," she admitted honestly. "Maybe that's also why."

"Ah…Yes, that certainly makes sense, though it is my intention that you remain the only woman in my life. But there's one thing, Asha. You cannot plan love."

"We speak of love like it's the easiest thing in the world."

Thorek smiled and took her in his arms. "If there is something Humans and Romulans have in common, it is that we don't know where love begins and where it ends."

"The other thing, my deyhhan, is that I am still a citizen with limited rights, though I can apply at the end of this year. It is very important to me that I am a full Romulan citizen if I pursued a relationship with Merken. This kind of dissimilarity would show in little ways or the other otherwise. Romulans are proud, but so are Humans."

"I agree with you on that point, my ailhun."

"I also know that my application might be rejected. I'll really have to think this through. I am also too proud and too correct to even think of asking him to, you know, help things along after my application. I want full rights on my own merits."

"That is very honourable."

"It is simply correct, that's all."

When Asha left to prepare for bed, Thorek thought about the situation, and when he went to sleep holding her in his arms, he already had a plan in mind.