Disclaimer: Don't own em; don't profit.

Acknowledgement: Many, many thanks to T'Ashalik for her excellent beta and her generous encouragement and support.

The Vulcan language in this story is taken from two online sources: The Vulcan Language Dictionary and the Vulcan Language Institute Reclamation Project.

The Summons

Sarek was conducting his morning staff meeting when a message was passed to him by his chief aide, Soran, informing him that a communication from T'Pau required his immediate attention. After instructing Soran to take over the meeting, he returned to his office and called up T'Pau's message.

"To Sarek from T'Pau: Word has reached Vulcan of your announced intention to bond with a Terran female. This proposed marriage is unacceptable to our family and to the High Council. You will return to Vulcan on the first available transport vessel. Upon your arrival in Shi'Kahr, you will appear before me to account for your actions. In the interim, Soran will assume your diplomatic duties. Transmit a copy of your itinerary to this office within the hour."

When Sarek read the terse communication from his great-aunt, his jaw tightened. He had known when he asked Amanda to be his bond-mate and wife that he could expect something like this from T'Pau. It was no secret within the family, or on the High Council, that T'Pau disliked and distrusted humans, finding them to be an immature, violent, and irrational race of beings. Nevertheless, Sarek was unable to completely suppress a surge of anger in reaction to T'Pau's high-handed summons.

At that moment, Amanda Grayson was in a classroom at the Vulcan Embassy teaching a lesson on Terran culture and customs to ten Vulcan children of various ages. She was explaining the human custom of shaking hands to her students when she felt intense anger that could only have been transmitted to her through her bond with Sarek. She paused in the middle of a sentence, frowning in confusion. Reaching out to him through their newly established bond, she asked, "/What is it, Sarek? What's wrong?/" Almost immediately, she felt his mental shields slide into place, shutting her out.

Her students were confused by the prospect of their teacher standing there, silent and unmoving, with a strange frown on her face. After they sat for a few moments glancing at each other uneasily, the oldest child, T'Lira, rose and walked over to stand before their teacher. Gazing earnestly into Amanda's eyes, she tried to get her attention. "Osavensu? Are you unwell? Do you require assistance?"

With a start, Amanda focused on the concerned black eyes of her young student. "I'm all right, T'Lira. I apologize for the distraction, children. Now, where were we? Oh, yes, we were talking about why humans shake hands when greeting each other." She tried to carry on with her lesson, but was unable to concentrate on the subject matter. After a few more minutes of effort, she gave up and dismissed the class early, rushing to Sarek's office to find out what was wrong.

When she entered the ambassador's outer office, his new aide, Stelin, gazed at her expressionlessly with his cold black eyes."Miss Grayson, is there something you require?"

Amanda walked over to his desk. "Stelin, I need to speak with Sarek. Is he in his office?"

"The ambassador is in his private quarters packing. He left instructions that you are to attend him there. He will be departing for Vulcan within the hour, and he wishes to speak with you before he leaves."

"And you were intending to tell me this when?" Amanda muttered under her breath as she turned to leave Sarek's office, forgetting the acuity of Vulcan hearing.

"Miss Grayson?" Stelin replied.

"Never mind," she replied with equal coldness as the door to the outer office slid silently shut.

Growing more concerned with every passing minute, she hurried through the halls of the Vulcan Embassy toward Sarek's private quarters. The Vulcans she passed gazed after her with barely concealed disapproval. Vulcans, after all, did not rush from one place to another with unseemly haste. She didn't care; her only concern was get to her new bond-mate and find out what was wrong.

When she finally entered his private quarters, she found Sarek fastening his cloak as he briefed Soran about upcoming meetings and events he would have to attend in his superior's absence. His battered brown cloth travel case, already packed and ready for departure, sat at his feet.

Both men turned to face her when Amanda burst through the door, cheeks flushed, blue eyes wide with concern. Sarek exchanged a brief glance with his chief aide, who bowed to her. "T'Sai Amanda." Soran picked up the travel case and turned back to face his superior. "I will meet you at the transporter pad in ten minutes, Osu."

Amanda nodded to Soran as he passed her on his way out of the ambassador's quarters. When the door closed behind her, she walked over to Sarek, extending paired fingers in the ozh'esta. "What's going on here? What was that surge of anger I felt from you, and why did you shut me out? Why do you have to leave for Vulcan with only one hour's notice? Is something wrong at home?"

Sarek touched his fingers to hers. "T'Pau has relieved me of my duties temporarily and summoned me back to Vulcan, Amanda." He hesitated before continuing. "She does not approve of our bonding. I'm to report to her immediately upon my arrival on Vulcan to 'account for my actions,' as she so charmingly put it." A nerve in his jaw twitched as he gazed at his new bond-mate.

Amanda's sapphire eyes blazed with anger. "Why, just because I'm human? Let's see, what is that nice little Vulcan pejorative? Oh, yes, qom'i, as in inferior species."

He caressed her cheek with paired fingers. "Aduna, you are inferior to no one. You are my chosen one. Never forget that."

Her anger momentarily diverted, she smiled up at him. "I love you, too. But still, this is ridiculous." She walked a few paces away and turned to face him. "This is the twenty-third century," she continued. "Prejudice should be a thing of the past, especially on the part of Vulcans. Aren't you the race that claims to follow the principles of IDIC? Well, we're a perfect symbol of diversity in combination. This kind of prejudice is, is . . . illogical!" she finished, throwing her hands into the air.

"Of course, you are right," he replied as he closed the distance between them. "Prejudice is illogical. Nevertheless, we must face the fact that it exists, not just on Vulcan, but on Earth as well. Need I remind you of the existence of human organizations such as Terra Prime? Or, for that matter, of the demonstrations that organization staged outside the Vulcan Embassy last week when our engagement was announced?"

She sighed, wrapping her arms around his waist and leaning her head against his broad chest. "Why does this have to be so difficult?" she asked. "We're two people who cherish each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together, and it seems that both our worlds oppose our marriage."

Sarek encircled her small form with his arms and rested his chin on the top of her head. "We knew this would be difficult when we decided to marry, Amanda. We will face whatever obstacles we encounter together."

She pulled back and raised her face to gaze into his eyes. "But what about this T'Pau? She's not just the matriarch of the S'chn T'gai clan; she's also the head of the Vulcan High Council - the most powerful person on the planet. Can she actually end your diplomatic career? What if she refuses to sanction our marriage?"

"She is also my great-aunt, Amanda. As I have told you before, I am her favorite nephew. She has the authority to withdraw my appointment as the Vulcan ambassador to Earth and see to it that my diplomatic career is terminated. If she were to take such an action, I would offer my diplomatic services to the Federation. It would be illogical for the Federation Diplomatic Service to refuse my offer.

"I am more concerned about the possibility that she may refuse to sanction our marriage. She is, as you pointed out, the matriarch of my clan, the Pid-kom. If she refuses to acknowledge you as my wife, it will be virtually impossible for you to gain acceptance from Vulcan society in general. However, I have given the matter considerable thought, and I believe I will be able to overcome her objections."

He tipped her chin up so they gazed into each other's eyes. "Don't concern yourself about this, Amanda. I have confidence that I can deal with the situation. And now I must go meet Soran at the transporter platform. My transport to Vulcan leaves in fifteen point two zero minutes."

He lowered his head to kiss her. After a few moments, he reluctantly pulled away and released her. Extending paired fingers, he asked, "Will you walk with me, my aduna?"

She smiled up at him, matching paired fingers to his. "Of course, my adun. I love you, you know."

The corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly. "I do know. You tell me so constantly."

As they walked through the halls of the embassy toward the transporter pad, Amanda glanced anxiously at him. "You will contact me when you get to Vulcan, won't you, so I know you got there okay? And of course, after your meeting with T'Pau, call me and tell me everything that happened."

He returned her glance as he strode briskly down the hall, hands folded behind him. "I will."

By this time they had reached the transporter room. Soran, who was waiting for final instructions from Sarek, averted his eyes to give them some degree of privacy. They turned to face each other. "Have a safe journey," Amanda said softly extending paired fingers once again in the ozh'esta.

Her bond-mate touched his fingers to hers, gazing intently into her eyes for one long moment. "I will return as soon as I am able. All will be well. If you need anything in my absence, Soran will do his best to assist you."

She nodded silently, determined not to exhibit any emotional behavior in front of Soran and the transporter operator.

The ambassador turned, stepped up on the platform, and took his place on the transporter pad. After speaking with Soran for a few moments, he nodded at the Vulcan officer standing at the transporter controls. "Energize."

Amanda watched as her beloved dissolved into a maelstrom of sparkling golden flecks before fading gradually away. Now all she could do was wait.

Vulcan terms:

Osavensu: Respected teacher

pid-kom: Matriarch

qom'i: Human, Terran

A/N: Thank you for reading this story. Would you please read a review? Feedback, whether positive or critical, helps me to grow as an author.