T'Shaul was a young Vulcan female of uninspiring appearance. She was a bit
short, even by human standards. Her cheeks were too narrow, her nose too
pointed, and her ears were large. Her body always remained hidden under the
folds of a robe, but there was not much indication that she was of any great
beauty. Vulcan's, though, do not judge by appearance only, and T'Shaul was not
ever overtly considered ugly or unattractive. Still, her parents found it
difficult to arrange a marriage when T'Shaul had been a child. And then they
had learned that she did not *wish* to be betrothed. Being somewhat liberal,
her parents conceded to T'Shauls request for no interference on the order of
marriage. There would be other children for Silvak and T'Peruv.
T'Shaul kept herself unusually isolated for a vulcan, though never from her
family. She immersed herself in studies, and proved very apt in both biology
and ecology. As Vulcan was a planet with a rather small and limited biosphere,
she concentrated her studies on other planets, especially Earth. Its vast range
of environments and sub-ecologies was eternally fascinating for T'Shaul, and
her parents concern for T'Shauls self-imposed isolation was buffeted by the
knowledge that she would be well respected for her chosen field of application.
That she had already passed the age of marriage without any apparent concern or
interest was unusual, but not unheard of.
It was in a class on Earth human society that T'Shaul met Ethan Cook. He
was a human, actually *from* Earth, who taught the course for the Vulcan
Science Academy. T'Shaul had only met one human before, a friend of her
mothers. Ethan did not match those early impressions at all. He was cool and
reserved, modeling himself a great deal after Vulcan's. He taught the class
efficiently, and was willing to discuss topics not directly covered, after the
class.
Over the weeks, T'Shaul found that Ethan was not modeling the behavior of
Vulcan's at all. One of the human classmates told her that he had known Ethan
when on a colony planet a few years ago, and he had been the same back then.
"I think he just doesn't like people much," the student said, "he doesn't
associate with anyone very much. Acts kind of snobby, actually."
"Perhaps he is just shy," T'Shaul suggested in her quiet voice.
"Yeah, well... I wouldn't be surprised, I doubt he's been able to get any
girlfriends with his looks..." The student immediately looked embarrassed and
hurried off. T'Shaul had easily felt his reaction, though, to her own
appearance. It was a typically shallow emotional reaction for a human. Yet it
somehow disturbed T'Shaul slightly. She had not admitted, even to herself, that
her appearance was part of the reason for her isolation.
It was towards the end of the course when T'Shaul discovered Ethan in the
desert, crying, one night. She had been frequenting it herself because of the
effectiveness of the sterile environment when meditating. One night she came to
a small outcropping of rock, still radiating heat absorbed from Vulcan's
brilliant sun, which had set. Her first reaction upon seeing the human, bent up
against the rock and sobbing into his hands, was to leave immediately. It was a
display of emotion distasteful to any Vulcan, even from a human. But she
recognized that it was Ethan, and her curiosity overcame the Vulcan's usual
regard for privacy. That, and something that radiated with his emotions,
something that was familiar.
When Ethan recognized T'Shaul as a student in his course, he hesitated to
leave. Then, figuring that no Vulcan would really care about his personal
troubles, if they even understood them, he ended up inviting her to stay. She
was hesitant but obviously curious. Feeling the need to purge the depression
that was looming in him, Ethan told the quiet T'Shaul about the pain that led
to his sobbing in the desert, alone.
It was with some amazement that T'Shaul learned that Ethan also had a
self-imposed isolation. In the human society, he had been unable to live with
what was generally viewed as an unattractive visage, as well as a social
clumsiness. Ethan Cook had eventually given up on forming relations with his
own people, especially female. He had been greatly hurt by rejection inflicted
on him by several different callous women.
T'Shaul found herself listening intently as the young and lonely man droned
on, rating his life lower and lower. She found herself sympathizing so greatly
that before she realized it, she was telling Ethan about her own deeply buried
self-doubts over appearance and a purpose in her life. She didn't notice the
humans eyes growing wider as she described a strange emptiness she had always
felt in her soul. Than she started when his hand touched hers, and found
herself staring into hidden eyes that somehow gleamed without light.
In a few short weeks, an incredible change came over the two. T'Shaul was
suddenly telling T'Peruv and Silvak all about her Earth society teacher and not
the course itself. And her bearing had altered in some way that made her more
noticeable. Meanwhile, Ethan Cook was amazing students and co-workers alike as
he smiled, chuckled, and even laughed on occasions. The man who had been
considered snobbish and unsociable was now openly friendly. No one could figure
out the reason behind the apparent changes in his behavior. Until he announced
joyously that he and T'Shaul were to marry.
T'Shauls parents were, for Vulcan's, overjoyed. They approved strongly of
Ethan, which surprised him. He was delighted to find how much regard they had
for him and his work.
"You have brought our daughter back for us," T'Shauls father said softly to
Ethan, when they were momentarily alone. "This is appreciated greatly." Ethan
nodded numbly, knowing what an open admission like this cost the old Vulcan. "I
thank you," Ethan managed to say, "for having your daughter. She is everything
to me." And while the love for T'Shaul emanating from the Earth man was not
enough to make Silvak react openly, his eyes did shine more brightly.
At the Bonding ceremony, T'Shaul and Ethan were accompanied by many vulcan
relatives and friends of her family. Ethan was surprised at how many humans
showed up as well, and was slowly learning that more people had cared for him
then he thought.
When the full marriage Bond was established, Ethan found himself crying
freely and without shame. Standing together, their hands just touching, he and
T'Shaul thanked their guests for their attendance. The love and joy being
radiated caused more then one Vulcan to let slip a minor expression of emotion.
Several of the older Vulcan even smiled at them openly, though only for a
moment.
All of their loneliness and depression were gone, and in the past. T'Shaul
and Ethan had found each other, the Bond thundering in their souls.
* * * *
The couple left Vulcan for what, in quaint human terms, Ethan called a
honeymoon. With the money bestowed upon them as wedding gifts, it was easy to
obtain passage to Net'liree, a lush recreational planet. The planet had an even
climate very much like a warm spring on Earth, which T'Shaul found cool but not
uncomfortable. To Ethan, any drop in temperature was a relief. Both enjoyed the
lighter gravity, T'Shaul more out of the uniqueness of the experience then the
physical relief that Ethan felt.
They obtained a modest cabin situated in a large area of land, far removed
from other vacationers. Net'liree was a planet for those that wished privacy
and simple, natural pleasures. The cabin was near the edge of a large lake,
with open fields spread out to one side and a large but not very dense forest
at the other. Most of the native animal life consisted of birds, small mammals
and reptiles, but a number of animals from other planets, including Earth, had
been transplanted to Net'liree. There were even some bears, though they were
very shy.
The couple spent their time exploring the area. T'Shaul was enraptured by
the assortment of plants. Grasses, bushes, trees, and flowers were everywhere,
and the wind was filled with the scent of growing things and chlorophyll. Ethan
smiled at her wonder of so much greenery. She was also intrigued when he
started swimming in the lake. The experience of total immersion in liquid was
almost totally alien to T'Shaul, who had never left Vulcan. Even baths were
rare, so she did not join Ethan the first several times.
It was the late afternoon of their third day at the cabin when Ethan was
finally able to convince T'Shaul to let him teach her how to swim. She was
observing the squirrels, feeding them nuts and bits of fruit to win their
trust, when Ethan remarked that for a wife she acted a lot like a student.
T'Shaul turned her head and watched Ethan "treading water" as he smirked at
her. She knew he was playing one of those incomprehensible human games again.
She had been learning, slowly, what "teasing" was and responded, with usual
vulcan calmness, "In matters of human behavior, I will always be your student."
Ethan continued to grin and then suddenly splashed a small wave of water
onto her. She blinked and stood up, but knew it was just part of the game. She
was not sure how to respond next though.
"Well if you're my student, then I think that I should teach you how to
swim," Ethan said, a mock serious expression taking over his face. "Get your
clothes off and come on in."
T'Shaul continued to stand for a moment, then quickly and efficiently
stripped off her clothing. Ethan had bought them at a shop in town to help keep
her warm. She piled the clothing carefully a ways from the edge of the lake,
then stepped to the edge and slowly slid herself into the water, which was only
about thigh-high at that point. To her it was chilly and made her shiver
slightly.
Her complete obeyal of Ethans playful command and her nakedness in the
clear daylight had erased Ethans grin. Now he was just gazing at her body.
Married they were, but they had not yet consummated it, the intense joy of the
Bond having eclipsed such mundane thoughts as those of sex. They had not paid
attention to each others nudity when changing clothes, and had spent their
nights only sleeping, sharing dreams. Now Ethan was taking the time to really
look at his wives body, and she dutifully turned around slowly at the
admiration that came through the Bond.
"And to think that we terrans *still* have taboos against the naked form,"
Ethan said quietly. He beckoned T'Shaul closer and she walked into the lake to
him, as he swam closer to her. Meeting at a depth where the water lapped around
their chests, Ethan gazed into her eyes and then gently took her hand.
Ethan tugged T'Shaul out to the deeper water, then let go of her hand. She
knew that her buoyancy was higher then that of the liquid and therefore she
should float, but found herself nearly choking on the cold lake water.
"Move your legs," Ethan said, a bit of urgency in his voice. He remained
close but didn't touch her. "Kick them back and forth like you were walking
hard." T'Shaul did as he said and her head was pushed above the waterline.
After he was sure knew how to stay afloat properly, Ethan began to teach
her some basic swimming motions. The mechanics were apparent very quickly, and
soon T'Shaul was propelling herself about the lake, being very careful not to
breath in any water. Ethan laughed and started to swim around her, showing off.
They collided, and he gasped as she went under. Panicking, he grabbed her by
the waist and heaved her body up high into the air. T'Shaul let out a gasping
breath and wiped her wet, black hair from her face.
Ethan thought, his heart pounding with fear.
T'Shaul thought, her trust implicit. She was
looking down at Ethan and his arms were trembling with the effort to hold her
up but he didn't lower her as he just keep staring into her eyes and thinking
over and over as tears mixed with the cool lake water...
she exclaimed. She didn't want him to pull a
muscle but he didn't care. She twisted carefully and slid out of his grasp, but
before he could panic again, she swam to the lake edge. He followed and climbed
out before her, to help her.
"I am fine, my love," she said firmly. Ethan stroked her cheek and his
concern slowly faded. T'Shaul knew the fear he had felt, and did not deny that
she too could not stand the thought of his every dying. It could be examined
calmly and logically, but she did not want to. She only wanted to be with Ethan
and love him, giving herself to him completely. The Bond joined their thoughts
and desires into one.
Hands clasped, they silently headed for the cabin, T'Shauls clothes left
behind.
Ethan insisted on lighting a large fire to heat the cabin. T'Shaul
protested that it would make him unnecessarily hot and she could withstand the
cold quite easily.
"No way," Ethan said. "You forget how much more humans can adapt to varying
environments than Vulcan's. This'll just be like the summer I spent in Israel."
"It is not logical for you to endure such discomfort. I am more adequately
prepared to deal with --"
Ethan brushed T'Shauls cheek with the back of his hand, cutting off her
statement. he thought,
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