Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty - Bondings

Jim stood at the podium before the assembled guests waiting for the bonding to start. Here he was performing another wedding. The day had started off wonderful as he was awakened by a morning blow job, those are always wonderful. He had to reciprocate as it was only fair and the boys had been still asleep at the time. Once they had reformed their bones, the kits had awoken demanding their morning meal. They were going longer between feedings and so he wasn’t constantly having to stop what he was doing and going to feed them. He hoped that he could feed them until they were at least twenty four months. He loved the feeling knowing he was taking care of them and bonding with his boys. He gave a happy sigh as the music started and the two stepped before the podium. Both were dressed in traditional Romulan garb. The robes were beautiful and as the submissive, Korath’s had a more feminine look to them. He smiled and began the ceremony.

“We are here today to bond two souls together. Today these two will become one. There was a poem from a great old Earth poet the accurately talks of the love these two share. Robert Burns said it best in his poem called “My Luve.” ‘O my luve is like a red, red rose, That's newly sprung in June: O my luve is like the melodie, That's sweetly played in tune. As fair art thou, my bonie lass, So deep in luve am I; And I will luve thee still, my dear, Till a` the seas gang dry. Till a` the seas gang dry, my dear, And the rocks melt wi` the sun; And I will luve thee still my dear,

While the sands o` life shall run. And fare thee weel, my only luve! And fare thee weel a while!

And I will come again, my luve, Tho` it were ten thousand mile.’ Their love is like the rose. They tend it and water it and nurture it to grow and prosper.” Jim smiled down at them from his spot and continued, “Merrok take Korath by his hands and speak the vows.”

Merrok took his mates hands in his, giving them a squeeze before he spoke, “I pledge my love to you, and everything that I own. I promise you the first bite of my meat and the first sip from my cup. I pledge that your name will always be the name I cry aloud in the dead of night. I promise to honor you above all others. Our love is never-ending, and we will remain, forevermore, equals in our marriage. This is my wedding vow to you.”

Jim turned to look at Korath. He smiled when he saw Amanda and Uhura both wiping tears from their eyes. He never understood why women cried at weddings. He knew they were happy tears and figured that it would be one of those unsolvable mysteries regarding woman. “Korath, recite your vows.”

Korath looked deep into Merrok’s eyes letting his convey all he felt. The love he felt for this man, how happy he had made him and the pride he had being his mate and mother to his children. He cleared his throat and started to speak, “I pledge my love to you, and everything that I own. I promise you the first bite of my meat and the first sip from my cup. I pledge that your name will always be the name I cry aloud in the dead of night. I promise to honor you above all others.

Our love is never-ending, and we will remain, forevermore, equals in our marriage. This is my wedding vow to you.”

“Now you may kiss your mate.”

Merrok wasted no time in leaning down slightly and fitting his lips over his new husbands. That one word made his soul sing and the taste of his lips, caused fire to flow through him. He pulled back before he could take his mate here and now, before the wedding guests. If he did that, then that would be one hell of a wedding reception and he knew that Nyota would castrate him for missing it. She did help them set it up after all. He smiled at his new husband.

“And now may I present to you all, Merrok and Korath Lhaihtrha.”

Everyone stood and applauded them. Looking over the crew, his fellow Bastans and those of New Vulcan; Merrok knew life was good.

**********

It was now a week after the wedding of Merrok and Korath and it was now the time of the Naming Ceremony. Jim smiled as he stood with the other guests waiting on the start of the naming of Merrok’s and Korath’s twin boys. They decided that they wanted to have Omal perform the ceremony, the same that he and Spock had used for their sons. All six had sat down and gone over their bondings and christenings as they were as close as kin now. There are something that you go through together that can’t help but bond you. Being turned into a new species is one of them. So now they stood waiting for Omal to start.

Omal stepped up to where Merrok and Korath stood with the boys. He placed his hand on each of their shoulders and began, “We gather today to bless these children, a new life that has become part of our world. We gather today to name these children. To call a thing by name is to give it power, and so today we shall give these children a gift. We will welcome them into our hearts and lives and bless them with a name of their own.”

Korath stood forward and spoke, “To be a parent is to love and nurture, to lead a child to be a good person. It is to guide them along the right path and to both teach them and learn from them. It is to rein them in, and to give them wings. It is to smile at their joy, and weep at their pain. It is to walk beside them, and then one day allow them to walk alone. To be a parent is a great gift we have given ourselves. and the greatest responsibility we shall ever have.”

Omal then turn to the appointed godparents of the children, and asked, “You stand beside us, for the love of these children. Will you tell the gods who you are?”

Both Kor and Suran responded at the same time, “We are Kor and Suran, chosen to be Guardians for these children.”

Omal spoke again, “Do you know what it is to be a child's Guardian?”

They again responded at the same time, “It is to love and nurture, to show guidance and counsel. It is to help the child make choices should they need assistance. It is to be a second vav and Sos and to be there when called upon.”

Omal then placed the two babies on the table that had been set up for the ceremony. He then took some oil and traced and symbol on their foreheads, reciting, “May the gods keep these children pure and perfect, and let anything that is negative stay far beyond their world. May you always have good fortune, may you always have good health, may you always be joyful, and may you always have love in your heart.”  He then used the oil to place a symbol on their chests and then recited, “You are known to the gods and to us as D’Nal Lhaihtrha and Lhaerrh Lhaihtrha. These are your names, and they are powerful. Bear your names with honor, and may the gods bless you on this and every day. I honor you, D’Nal and Lhaerrh Lhaihtrha.” Omal then lifted a ceremonial cup to pass around, Merrok and Suran picked up the children and walked around presenting them to the guests. Each one placed a kiss on their cheeks and offered well wishes and blessings.

Omal spoke the last verse to finish the ceremony as the cup reached the godparents and they took a sip each, “Welcome, D’Nal and Lhaerrh, to our family and to our hearts. Your parents love you, and we thank them for giving you the gift of life. We ask the Gods to watch over you, D’Nal and Lhaerrh, and over your di’ranov and ri’nanov, and we wish your family love and light.”

He took the cup back from Kor and Suran and took a sip. He placed it on the table before him and bowed over it. With the ceremony finished and the children officially named, the guests wished the new parents and godparents well. 

Klingon translation:

vav - father

Sos - mother

Romulan translation:

di’ranov - father

ri’nanov - mother