Return To Tev'Meck

- Chapter 19 -


Lareth was speechless. While he was grateful that the Mating Urge had not been for Katelyn Wingate, he was dumstruck that Ipthar would choose someone like L'Tisha for him. Was he destined to be dominated by her forever? *L'Tisha, I....* He tried to touch her mind, but found it closed off to him...and he knew why....

L'Tisha was--for the lack of a better word--in hell. Before she had even reached the age of awareness, she had wanted Lazarus for her Mate. And now it seemed she was destine be be bonded to his younger brother instead! She felt the nudging in her mind, and knew that Lareth was trying to initiate the mind bond, but she resisted. She was not ready to communicate with him that way just yet. Instead, she vocally spoke.

"Why you?"

"I do not know--no one does--but we cannot question the wisdom...." Lareth stopped. He'd started to say "...we cannot question the wisdom of Ipthar." However, the realization hit: He and his father had done just that, by opposing the Bonding of Lazarus and Tawney. *That's different: She's human. The Bond cannot be allowed!* he tried to rationalize. Seeing an accusing look in his Chosen Mate's eyes, Lareth lowered his.

Turning her back to Lareth, L'Tisha moaned. "This is so unfair."

"Why?" Lareth ask.

Turning slightly, L'Tisha threw Lareth a glance that clearly said "You moron."

Suddenly, he remembered: All those times L'Tisha had chased him and Lethe off, as children, she'd ended up alone with Lazarus. HE was the one she'd hoped to be Mated with. "L'Tisha, I am sorry you are disappointed...but I truly want us to have a Union such as my parents had: One filled with joy. It will be hard....."

"Hard!?!" L'Tisha spun to face Lareth. "You have no idea how hard this will be!!"

Stalking past Lareth, L'Tisha continued on her tirade. "I despised you when we were younger. Both you and your sister, always thinking you were better than me." L'Tisha turned to see the shocked look in Lareth's eyes. "Oh yes, I despised you then, and I still despise you now. Lazarus was the only one even tried to be civil to me. And I just knew that he was the one I was to be bonded with."

"Sometimes I think he did that out of pity for us," Lareth ventured. He wanted to tell her something through a mental bond; however, seeing that she was not ready, Lareth settled for lowering his voice. "Father and I do not approve of my brother's so-called mate, and we are considering our options," he confessed.

L'Tisha's eyes took on an evil glint upon hearing this. "You and your father are....interfering with the decree of Ipthar?" It was unthinkable and blasphemous, but at the same time, L'Tisha could not contain her hope that maybe there was still a chance for her to be bonded to Lazarus.

Lareth hated to do it, but he had to: "If--and it's a long shot--we are sucessful in kingking this Bond, Lazarus will not be able to take another Lifemate...just as my father cannot."

L'Tisha's face crumpled in despair. Oh, why had she not thought of that?! Of course Lazarus would not be able to take another Lifemate. He would forever mourn the loss of his human.

But wait.

"Surely, as being an Earthling, Ipthar would not deny Lazarus the chance to be happy with a Mate of his own species should something happen to the human?" She questioned.

Just then, L'Tisha turned, and something about her profile struck a chord in Lareth...or was it the oils of the crushed roots she'd added to her bath. A change in the wind carried the resulting pheromene to Lareth. Suddenly, he was seeing L'Tisha in a new light...and he knew--he knew--that Ipthar's choice for him had been right. "And what about me...?"

Startled by the question, L'Tisha looked up at Lareth--her eyes meeting his--and was shocked to see the sudden desire that lay therein. Feeling a strange sensation beginning in her stomach, L'Tisha was suddenly frightened.

"I-It is late." She stuttered. "I believe it b-b-best we return to our huts now." Not waiting for a reply, L'Tisha hastened to leave.

As he turned to follow his newly-discovered Lifemate-To-Be, Lareth realized: *It will be as it should between us, L'Tisha...and we will make each other very happy.*

~*~

*We have much to discuss, old friend,* Luchien told the visiting Elder. *We must prepare a proper Bonding Ceremony.*

*In regards to whom, Luchien?* L'Tisha's father inquired. *Do you speak of my daughter to your youngest son, or your daughter to the visiting human?*

*I beg your pardon?!* Had Luchien been so happy for Lareth--who'd seemed destined for a life with a proper mate, that he'd overlooked something. Terror gripped his heart: It was disgraceful enough that Lazarus had taken a human mate...but Lethe as well...??

Smirking, T'Heseen inclined his head, so that he could look Luchien--being a few inches taller than he--in the eye. "You mean you did not feel it? The extra tension in that hut was stifling."

"Do you mean between Coder der Taggart, and his Ensign?" Luchien asked, hopefully.

"Er, no Luchien, I did not." Came the reply.

"Then surely not...By Grabthar's hammer...NO!!!" Luchien turned, and bolted back to Lareth's hut. Surely Ipthar would not be so cruel as to inflict two humans upon him!!

He never heard T'Heseen's laughter, which rang through the night.....

~*~

*Now I know I've never been this clumsy in front of a girl before, so what the hell is going on here!* Laredo thought as he once again bumped into the chair sitting beside where he stood at the table.

*This can't be what I think it is...can it...?* Lethe wondered.

Laredo chanced a glance in Lethe's direction, only to find her already looking his way. Their eyes locked and that damned shiver ran down Laredo's spine again.

*Shit! This isn't happening.* He thought helplessly.

Finally, it all clicked for him. He had once talked with Lt. Madison when she had first become bonded to Dr. Lazarus. Mainly because he had been curious, but now he wished he hadn't been.

Answering Laredo's unspoken question, Lethe gathered her courage, and stepped over to the Human visitor. *If I'm right, we'll know in a moment,* she realized. Putting her armsund und the startled young man's neck, she kissed him. Immediately, they were enveloped in a golden glow.....

"Hey Laredo, you and Lethe got that salad rea- Whoa!"

"I don't think so, Peter", an amused Katelyn remarked. She was wondering about the glow.

Hastily, the kissing couple leapt apart, causing the Bonding Aura to die out.

"Commander, I-I can ex-explain...", Lethe began. *To you, anyway...but to father...?*

Laredo's eyes were wide with shock and he was unable to utter an explanation. *I'm dead. I am so dead,* was the only thought in his mind at this point.

"Uh...will somebody say something?" a confused Katelyn asked.

By now, Lethe had regained a little bit of her composure...a very little bit. "Well, it, uh, appears that Ipthar has revealed my Lifemate to me", she said, very quietly.

Laredo's eyes bugged. "Commander! I-I..."

"It's alright, Laredo. No need to get all worked up. Katie and I pretty much saw this coming." Taggart assured the young helmsman.

"But the glow...?" Katelyn asked. "What does that mean...?" Unlike Laredo, she had not pressed Tawney about her relationship with the Mak'Tar man; therefore, she was in the dark about the significance of the glow.

"That's the Bonding Aura," Lethe explained, clearly embarrassed at her Human audience. "That's the confirmation we receive from Ipthar, that our Lifemate has been found."

"So, that will happen each time you...kiss?" a now-amused Katelyn asked.

Knowing what the young Ensign was trying not to say, Lethe found her tension released in laughter. "That, too...," saidsaid.

Although the shock was finally starting to fade, Laredo could not seem to get his mouth to work. He was sure that if it did, he would be wishing for the ground to open up and swallow him right about now.

Just then, the sound of running footsteps was heard, causing all four of the hut's inhabitants to look around as the door was slung open.

*Please, Ipthar, do not let me be too late!* Luchien begged. One glance at his daughter's face, however, told him otherwise.

~*~