Britannia, 185AD

It was an early March night, but winter showed no signs to make way for spring.

A strong, chilly wind blew on the Roman fortress near Hadrian's Wall, whipping the deserted lanes and filtering inside the barracks. The two sentries guarding the principal gate walked back and forth, stomping their feet to prevent them from freezing. Occasionally they stopped to exchange some words and warm their hands on the big braziers standing at the sides of the gate.

Suddenly their attention was attracted by a luminous object crossing the sky with amazing speed. The legionaries looked curious as the strange thing drew a smoking, flaming arch in the blue of the night before disappearing behind the hills that backed the fortress. The two men turned their heads to look at each other, as if to check they had both seen the same thing.

"Do you believe it was a sign of the gods?" The younger soldier finally asked.

"Perhaps," commented his companion noncommittally.

"And do you think it was good or bad?"

"I don't know and I don't care. The only thing that matters to me is that our shift is almost ended and we will soon stop freezing our asses in this forsaken wind!"

"Yeah, you are right!" The younger legionary smiled in agreement, but, before resuming his pacing, he turned to look at the hills one last time and made a sign against the bad luck: one can never be too prudent!

Maximus Decimus Meridius posed the letter he had just finished reading on the desk and leant against the back of the chair, grimacing at the pain shooting from his kidney region to his brain. Every time it happened it was like Commodus' stiletto blade entered his flesh again, despite the fact that almost four years had passed since that fateful day. Maximus had hoped that in the course of time that wound would become only a memory but, if that was true enough in the warm climate of Hispania, it was not so in the damp Northern Britannia.

However, and the mere thought brought a smile to his lips, the Senate had just informed him his replacement would arrive in about a month, thus enabling him to leave the legion to return home. And this time it would be for good.

Almost a year and half before, Maximus had accepted the temporary command of the Felix III, whose legate had been killed in a skirmish against the Picti. He had done so because it had been his legion for a long time, and he had shared glory and victory with many of its members, thus he did not want to leave them alone. But he had also accepted because he had felt alone in his house in Trujillo: despite the servants' presence, the gardens and the rooms of the rebuilt pink-stoned villa were inhabited only by ghosts for him. The memories of his late wife and son had haunted him, filling him with pain and regrets and not allowing him to begin a new life. Thus, when the Senate's request had arrived, Maximus had thought a change of scenery might have been good for him and had immediately departed for Britannia, hoping that the new commission would have helped him to leave the limbo his present life was and give it a new purpose. He had been right: away from haunting memories and his sense of guilt, and despite his duties as commander, Maximus had found the inner serenity to really evaluate his life and decide it was time to move forward. After all, he reasoned, his Selene had been a practical woman, and she would not have liked to see him mope all the time. Working shoulder to shoulder with his legionaries, sharing male companionship with them had helped him to regain the passion for his work and his joy to live, and he was sure they would remain with him even after he returned to his home - which he hoped would happen as soon as possible, since he had plenty of new ideas to enlarge and improve his cultivations.

"Just a month more," Maximus said to himself, "just a short month and then-"

A sudden commotion coming from outside interrupted Maximus' line of thought and he blinked his eyes, turning to look at the window and to the principia stretching beyond it. He frowned when he saw what was causing the noise: six legionaries were dragging forward a chained person - a woman judging by its long hair, even if its dress, a long white tunica smeared with mud, did not seem to evidence any female curves.

Maximus stood up and put his head out of the window. "What's going on?" he called, appalled by the way his men were pulling and pushing their captive.

"General!" exclaimed the highest ranking soldier of the group, a centurion he had know since his time in Germania, "Sir, we have just found this creature wandering near the fortress!"

Creature? Maximus frowned at the strange choice of words. "Take her to my office."

"Yes, sir!"

He moved away from the window, crossed the room to the door and opened it, stepping out in the corridor and waiting for the legionaries and their prisoner. He did not have to remain there long, for, announced by not understandable noises and more than discernable swearing, the little party soon turned the corner and the intruder was dragged into his office.

Maximus closed the door, then walked to the centre of the room to stop in front of the captive. He tilted his head and observed it. His first impression was confirmed: it looked like a woman, a very tall, lithe woman, with shining, waist long black hair and equally black eyes. Her face, which sported delicate features and strangely arched eyebrows, did not betray any emotion as she stayed passive under his scrutiny, but he noticed she was trembling. But was it for fear or because she was cold? That tunic of hers did not seem very useful to protect her against the still chilly climate.

His examination complete, Maximus turned to face the centurion. "So, Marius, tell me what happened."

"General, we went out on patrol as usual, and our attention was drawn by some smoke. We thought it might come from some barbarian camp, thus we went to check it. To our surprise we discovered no campfire, but a large hole in the terrain that we had never seen before. The grass and the trees around it were burned to the ground and they were the reason of the smoke."

Maximus nodded, stroking his beard from his chin down his neck, as he absorbed the strange information. "Where did you find her?" he then asked, tilting his head to indicate the woman.

"It was hiding near the hole and it tried to escape when it saw us. We thought it was better to capture it and interrogate it about what happened in the forest."

"Why are you referring to her as "it"? It seems obvious to me she is a woman." Maximus' eyes stopped on the clearly visible swelling of her chest. Those were certainly breasts: little but proud and so very tempting- he turned his eyes away, not wanting to betray the flash of lust that had coursed in his veins. So much time had passed since he had last had a woman...

"I- I am not so sure, sir."

"Why?" Maximus arched an eyebrow.

"Because- because of this..." Marius raised his hand to touch the captive's head, but it backed away. "Keep it still!" ordered the centurion, and the other legionaries planted their feet on the ground, strengthened their grip on the prisoner, and causing Maximus to wonder about how strong that fragile-looking woman in reality was. He walked closer to her and watched as his man pushed her hair back, revealing her ears. The general gasped in amazement when he saw they were pointed and not rounded.

"Oh," he commented, raising his hand to delicately touch the strange auricle, which seemed too beautiful to be a deformation.

"And it is not the only peculiarity, sir. Look at this." The centurion grabbed her right arm and bared it, showing him a deep cut oozing blood- but that blood was green, not red.

"My gods," Maximus murmured, instinctively backing away.

"Now you know why I call it a creature. It is clearly not a human being."

The general nodded, and stared once again at the strange being's eyes. There was something special in their mysterious depth, they showed intelligence and calm, and despite what he had just witnessed, Maximus knew the captive was not a danger for him. He felt fascinated and attracted by her- for him it was still a female, human or not human she might be.

"Do you think it is an elf, sir?" A young legionary asked, and Maximus smiled at his awed tone. The boy was Britannia- born and he certainly had heard too many legends about the elves and the other strange creatures that populated Celtic mythology.

"I don't know," he replied, "but I will do of my best to discover it."

"How sir? The creature does not seem to speak Latin or local idioms. And I think it might be dangerous." Marius had seen his superior's interest in the prisoner and he was not sure he liked it. His general had already had enough misfortune in his life and he did not want to see something bad happen to him yet again, not if he could prevent it.

Maximus understood and appreciated the other's concern for his well-being, but he had decided. He wanted to know more about the pointed-eared woman and nothing and nobody would make him change his mind.

"Don't worry, Marius, everything will be fine. Now please take her to my quarters. In the anteroom there are two iron rings fixed to the wall- I think they were used to chain dogs. Tie her there, but be sure to put a pallet on the floor and to give her one of the furs resting on my bed: she is trembling and I think it is because she is cold. And also leave some water and a chamber-pot near her: I wish to make her as comfortable as possible."

The centurion stared at him wild-eyed, but he had too much respect for his commander to openly tell him he thought he was mad. Thus he simply bowed his head. "As you wish, General." Then gestured to his men, "Come with me."

Maximus watched the little group march out the room, noticing how the woman was no longer resisting to the men's lead, then he sat down at his desk, trying to concentrate on the business at end: the sooner he finished to read reports and write orders, the sooner he would be able to return to his rooms and to his mysterious "guest".

It was already dark when Maximus returned to his quarters; he would have liked to see the woman sooner, but just after he had finished with his routine writing-work, he had been called to the stables, where the veterinarius had informed him the bout of horse-sickness that had hit one of their barns was not decreasing and drastic measures had to be taken. Many horses had to be put down and their corpses burned, and the whole process had pained and sickened him. His only consolation had been his beloved Argento and Scarto, his old war-horses - returned to him by his men after his ordeal had finished - were safely enjoying their retirement back in Hispania, far away from any danger.

He entered the anteroom and immediately his eyes went to the corner where the captive had been chained, and he breathed in relief seeing she was there. Given the strength she seemed to possess, he had been afraid she had freed herself and escaped. But she was still there, sitting cross-legged on a pallet, her shoulders wrapped in a fur, her back leaning against the wall. Once again he was captured by her phantom like gaze and he lost himself in it. However her eyes seemed to look at him accusingly. Was she resenting his treatment of her? Probably. Maximus understood only too well what it meant to find yourself chained like a beast, but given her mysterious nature he could have not done otherwise. Although something inside him kept on telling him she was not dangerous, he had thought it was better to be prudent. He had been too trusting in the past, and he had paid for his mistake when the man he considered his best friend, had arrested him in the middle of the night and ordered his and his family's execution. Maximus pushed away the memories of that terrible night in Germania and dragged a stool near the woman, sitting then on it.

He remained silent for several moments, then he finally spoke, using his most gentle tone. "Do you understand Latin?"

The woman bent her head to the side and looked straight at his eyes, but gave no signs she had caught the meaning of his words.

"Can you understand me?" he tried again, repeating the line in several Celtic idioms, but without any result. Thus he resorted to gestures. He tapped his chest and said, "Maximus. My name is Maximus." He did it several times and was pleased when the woman nodded and, mimicking his actions, spoke for the first time.

"T'ally." Her voice was low and warm, and caressed his ears.

"Tally?"

"T-ally." She said again, stressing the syllables.

"T-ally." He tried again and she nodded in approval.

"Maximus."

He grinned upon hearing her speaking his name, and his satisfaction became even greater when she shyly smiled in return. "Good!" he exclaimed and slapped his hands on his thighs. "Do you want to eat, T-ally? Do you want food?" And he mimicked the action of taking something to his mouth. "Food."

The woman nodded and his grin became even wider at her obvious eagerness, even if he berated himself for not telling his men to give her some food during the day.

Maximus stood up and walked to the table, where is manservant had already arranged his dinner. He put some meat, cheese and vegetables in two bowls, and put them on a little tray, along with a loaf of bread and two cups filled with watered wine. Then he returned to sit near T-ally, handing her a bowl, a cup and a piece of bread. She took them and stared at their contents, her nostrils flaring as she sniffed the food.

"It is good, don't worry. Eat." Maximus encouraged her, before attacking his own food with vengeance.

T-ally watched him for a while then, tentatively, picked up a piece of cheese and nibbled at it.

He looked as she chewed it slowly, then she nodded in approval and began to eat in earnest. She consumed everything except the meat, while the wine caused her to wriggle her nose in distaste: the action seemed so foreign on her elegant face that Maximus could not help but laugh at it, causing her to arch an eyebrow in perplexed enquiry.

"Please forgive me, I know it was not polite, but-" Maximus did not complete the line, but stood up once again and took the empty bowls back to the table. When he returned he carried a cup full of water. "Here, I think you will like this more."

T'ally took it and drank without hesitation, before nodding once again in approval.

Maximus sat down on the stool and, resting his elbows on his legs, contemplated the woman in front of him, trying to think about a way to communicate with her. There were so many things he wanted to ask her.... "What manner of thing are you?" he finally said, almost speaking to himself. "Where are you coming from?"

T-ally shook her head, her expressive eyes filled with confusion and sadness. 

"Oh, don't worry, I know it is not your fault if you cannot understand me. But I will find a way to talk to you, trust me. I don't care how much time it will take, I will do it." He smiled in reassurance but then his eyes posed on her right arm and his face fell as he noticed the green blood smearing her skin. He remembered the wound he had seen that morning and cursed under his breath: how could he have forgotten it? How could he have not ordered the surgeon to tend to it? He just hoped it had not infected. Maximus slid down the stool till he knelt in front of T-ally, who looked surprised at his actions and then a bit alarmed when he tried to take her arm. She retreated against the corner and stared at him wild-eyed.

"Shh," he soothed, berating his hurried action for it had obviously scared her. "Shh, I don't want to hurt you... It's all right." He spoke with all the gentleness he could muster and saw her relax. He once again reached for her arm and this time she did not resist, allowing him to roll up her sleeve and check her wound. Maximus removed the scarf he wore around his neck and immersed it in what remained of the water he had given to T-ally, using it then to clean her skin, noticing distractedly how delicate her limb was. The dry, green blood reminded him, if there were any need, how she truly was something different from everything he had seen in his life, but despite everything he was not afraid of her. He had lived and seen much and he had learnt that "unknown" did not necessary mean danger or evil. He completed his task and after the cut was clean, he wrapped it with his scarf. Throwing a look outside the window, he saw the moon was already high in the sky. It was time to go to bed. Thus he stood up and walked to his bedroom, returning few minutes later with another fur he gave to T-ally.

"Here, this will keep you warm during the night. I am sorry I cannot free you now, but I will do so soon, I promise." He watched as she wrapped the furs around her legs and then saluted her with a bow of his head, "Good night, T-ally, I will see you tomorrow."

After that he retreated into his bedroom and in the space of few minutes he was in lying on his bunk fast asleep.

T'ally waited till the lamp in the other room was blown out and then she let out the breath she seemed to have withheld for the whole day, since the moment she had been captured.

Lulled by the dark and by the regular sound of breathing her acute hearing could perceive coming from the bedroom, the Vulcan woman tried to find the concentration to meditate and rationalize what had happened to her. Her mind re-lived the events of the previous night and day, from the moment an explosion in the engine room had made her space vessel uncontrollable, obliging her to a desperate attempt of landing, to her almost miraculous escape from the burning, contorted metal with just a minor cut on her arm. Then she thought about her captors: she knew they were members of a race the scientists of her planet had not yet studied closely, because their civilization was still too primitive to raise great interest in them. However they were very intelligent beings and she did not doubt one day they would muster the technology necessary for space travels- but that time was still very far away.

T'ally heard a slight noise coming from the other room and her musings turned on Maximus, the leader of the warriors that were keeping her captive. She was fascinated by him: he had a charismatic aura around him she could almost feel and despite the tricky situation she was in, she was not afraid. That was highly illogical, as her teacher, Master Surak, was fond to say. She should have been worried, trapped as she was on an unknown planet, away from the usual routes followed by the Vulcan merchant ships, without any chance to transmit a message and ask for a rescue mission. T'ally thought Surak would have been proud of the control she had displayed after her capture, but she doubted her master would have approved the reason behind it: she felt safe in Maximus' presence, she instinctively knew he did not mean any harm to her. And that made her curious about him. His reaction to her, excluding his shock at the sight of her blood- was these beings' blood so diverse from hers? - had been totally different from that of his men. She had not sensed any fear or disgust in him, but instead a great interest and, for just a moment, she had even perceived sexual excitement in her regards. And, even if she was almost embarrassed to admit it to herself, she had been pleased by it, for she found Maximus extremely attractive. His rounded ears and eyebrows were a bit strange, but the rest of his face, from his straight nose to his strong bearded jaw and sensual mouth, was ruggedly handsome and full of character. But his eyes had been what had impressed her most: they had the colour of the water that covered much of his world and they showed the beauty of his katra, his living spirit. When he had touched her, his powerful, untrained mind and strong emotions had slammed against her mental shields with unexpected force, and that was the reason she had first resisted him tending to her wound. She had not expected him acting in that way: Vulcans never touched each other without permission, for it was a very personal experience, but evidently Maximus' race had not the same rules, perhaps because they were not telepaths, as she had quickly discovered. Only when she had been able to strengthen her mind-barriers, T'ally had stopped to struggle and let him touch her again. But now, in her relaxed state, she allowed herself to recall what she had learnt about him during their brief contact - which, regrettably was not very much - and after some meditation, she came to the conclusion the experience had not been so bad. Just like with his external appearance, she found his unschooled mind different, but in a pleasant way. And since now she knew how to keep him at bay, T'ally looked forward for it to happen again, and not only because it would enable her to get more information about his world.

The next morning Maximus woke up feeling well rested and energetic. He was in very high spirits, and not only because he knew he would soon go home. He was once again invaded by the thrill of discovery that had animated him when he was a young man and had served as tribune in Dacia and Aegypt. He had loved to know and understand the manners and customs of the locals for, even if he was convinced Rome was the light, he believed something good and interesting might be found everywhere. But, as his political and military career advanced, his increased duties and responsibilities, had taken away his curiosity. By the time he had begun his campaigns in Germania, he was no longer interested In learning about the other populaces anything else but their weaknesses, so he would be able to use them to defeat the barbarians. Then there had been his ordeal in Africa and Rome and Maximus had practically lost everything, his will to live included.

But now- now it was different. His meeting with T-ally, that beautiful and mysterious creature, had blown away years of weariness and disinterest, and he was once again eager to know and learn. He wanted to know and learn about T-ally and was determinate to do so, no matter how much time it would take.

Maximus threw back the cover and after some stretching exercises for his lower back, he stood up and began his day. He washed with a rag and a basin and put the clothes his manservant had laid out for him the evening before. Then he combed his short-cropped hair and gave a little trimming to his beard - not too much because it helped him to keep his face warm. His preparations complete, he left his chamber for the anteroom, his heart beating a little faster at the prospect of seeing T-ally again.

His eyes immediately went to the corner of the room, a sigh of relief escaping his lips as he saw her sit on the pallet, still wrapped up in the furs. Her face seemed to brighten when she saw him, and a smile slowly spread on his face.

"T-ally." He bowed his head in salute as he crossed the pavement to the stool he had used the night before.

"Maximus." She replied to his gesture.

"I hope you slept well. I will make sure you have a real bed tonight." Maximus pointed to the pallet, but he could see she had not grasped the meaning of his words by her desolate look. It made his heart cringe, and he leant forward and touched her arm in support. "I will find a way to communicate with you, I promise." He announced, staring at her eyes with intensity. Then he began to stand up but stopped cold when T-ally raised her hand and gently touched and probed his face. Maximus remained still, wondering if she was going to caress his features as blind people do to discover how the others look like, but her fingers stopped their roaming on his temple and cheekbone. He watched fascinated as she closed her eyes and seemed to lose herself in deep thought and, although he was very surprised by her behaviour and his mind was full of questions, he did not move, letting her have her way with him. Few minutes later, T-ally opened her eyes and lowered her hand, before flashing him a little smile.

Maximus remained in his position until a knock on the door alerted him his manservant had arrived with the breakfast. So he stood up and went to open, unable to shake away the feeling that something very important had just happened. But what was it?

The second day of T'ally's captivity elapsed much more quickly than the first. She once again spent it waiting for Maximus' return - her solitude occasionally interrupted by his manservant bringing her clean clothes to wear, fresh water to wash and emptying the chamber pot - but there was also an important difference. She was not longer scared of what was going to happen to her, and she had a wonderful way to occupy her time. That morning she had touched Maximus' mind again, acquiring from him enough notions of his language to be able to communicate with him.

She now needed time to elaborate what she had learned, but she had elated to know Latin - that was its name - was a very logical idiom.

The rest of her time was spent in a less pleasurable way, as she had meditated about how she had violated Maximus' mind. True, she had meant no harm to him, and she had not probed his thoughts but only explored his speech patterns, but still she had committed a terrible crime by Vulcan standards, and it was even more serious because the victim was not a telepath. T'ally hoped that the satisfaction Maximus would feel when he would discover they could understand each other, would help her to forgive herself for what she had done...and for the pleasure being in his mind had caused her. She had sensed how surprised he had been at her actions, and she had been touched by how he had forced himself to stay still and let her have her way, with a great sense of respect for her customs.

T'ally completed her meditation late in the afternoon, and tensed her ears, hoping to hear Maximus' voice or steps echoing in the corridor outside the room. When she finally heard him come near, she sat straighter on her pallet and checked her clothes to be sure they were correctly arranged: it had not been easy to dress with a chained arm, but she hoped to have mastered it.

The door opened and T'ally felt a strong, unusual emotion surge inside her. It was joy. Joy he was back with her and she would be able to bask in his powerful presence. In her whole life she had met only one other person gifted with such a personality, and it was Master Surak. But unlike her Vulcan teacher, whose katra was imprisoned by the iron rules of logic and the new philosophy of life he was teaching to her people, Maximus' spirit was more free... warmer...T'ally could not help but be fascinated by him and desire to know him better. For a fleeting moment she thought Master Surak would not have approved of how she was behaving, but she resolutely pushed the idea away: Vulcans were explorers, they thrived on knowledge, and that man represented a universe to discover.

"T-ally?" Maximus' voice called her back to reality, and she smiled at the peculiar way he pronounced her name. He had just entered the room and, after dropping his cloak on the back of a chair, walked near her.

"Maximus," she greeted him.

"I hope you had a good day and you were not too bored." A shiver ran along her spine as she understood the meaning of the words he had just spoken with his deep, rumbling voice. She braced herself and willed her lips to reply to him.

"My day was good, Maximus. I was not bored."

T'ally saw his beautiful blue-green eyes widen in amazement.

"You- you understand me?" he whispered in wonder, as he dropped to sit on his stool.

She nodded, "Yes."

"How?"

"It is a...trick of my people." T'ally hated not being able to tell him more - Vulcans did not lie - but she knew he was not ready to hear the whole truth. His race, the Humans, had yet too much road to cover before it could accept the concept of other planets being inhabited.

"The elves? Is this a trick of the elves?"

T'ally frowned, not knowing what elves were, then shook her head, "Not the elves- the Vulcans."

"The Vulcans?" Maximus repeated, tasting the strange name on his lips. "You are a Vulcan?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

He stared at her for a long time, and she could see in his expressive eyes how his mind worked to rationalize what he had just heard, how he tried to fit the new information into his knowledge.

Finally he shrugged and said, "I am afraid I never heard about your people."

"I am not surprised, only few Humans know about us." Once again, she was not lying, but simply stretching the truth a little bit: after all, only Maximus and the soldiers that had captured her knew about her existence.

"I see." He nodded, leaning forward. "Are you alone here?"

"Yes. I am an explorer." His eyes narrowed with some suspicion and she hasted to add, "I am not a spy, just a very curious being, as all the Vulcans." He relaxed at once and she went on, "My ship broke and I had an emergency landing..."

"You covered a lot of road. The sea is far away from here."

T'ally frowned in confusion, until she understood he believed she had a shipwreck. "Oh...well, yes, I walked a lot."

"Do you think your people will come for you?"

"I don't know." She replied with sincerity, lowering her head, worry seeping into her voice. But why? Was she troubled the Vulcans would believe her dead and never come to search for her? Or was she afraid they might come and take her away from Maximus?

They were difficult questions, and she was not yet ready to answer them.

Maximus sensed her uneasiness and reached out to touch her hand. She raised her eyes to look at him, reacting at his comforting gesture and noticing the deadly serious way he was staring at her.

"You have nothing to fear. I will protect you till they come to take you home. But you must promise me you won't try to go away: I can keep you safe only if you remain near me."

T'ally nodded slowly, mesmerized by his gaze and voice. "I promise, Maximus. I will stay with you."

"Good." He straightened and smiled, breaking the spell he had cast over her. "And since you are my guest and not my prisoner, I believe it is time to remove these chains." He knelt near her and pulled out a key from beneath his clothes, quickly freeing her arm. "For your safety, outside this room my soldiers must think you are my slave, my property. But inside my quarters - and inside my heart - you will always be free and my equal."

"Yes, Maximus, I understand your reasons and I approve of them. I believe it is the most logical thing to do."

Maximus arched an eyebrow at her strange choice of words, then he stood up and helped her to her feet.

"Come, this evening we will eat at the table. I have many things to ask you, and I wish to do so sitting comfortably, with hot food and a cup of wine in front of me."

T'ally grimaced as she remembered the ruby-coloured beverage of the night before and it caused Maximus to laugh heartily. "Don't worry, there won't be any wine for you! Just plain water!"

And speaking so he motioned her to proceed him to the table.

During the next days life in the fortress went on as usual, as Maximus waited for his replacement to arrive and began to arrange his journey to Hispania. The tribes on the other side of the border kept quiet, for the very cold winter had hit them hard, and the legionaries took advantage of it to repair the existing roads and built new ones. Maximus used that abundance of free time to remain in his office or private quarters with T'ally always close. He loved to talk with her and hear about her homeland as much as she seemed to listen him tell her about the Empire and Trujillo. The Vulcan native - he had still to understand where the place was, perhaps somewhere in Asia, beyond Parthia? - had adapted remarkably well to the life of the legion and his personal routine. In fact she had become so expert about his habits - from how warm he preferred his bath to how he wanted his uniforms folded - that she had replaced his manservant in the care of his person. She also knew when he wished to stay alone and think, and when he liked company and talks, fitting in his life so well and so perfectly, like an enamel-tessera fits in a mosaic, that he soon began to think she had always been part of it.

The soldiers in the fortress had accepted his new "slave" with no particular reaction, since the men that had first captured T'ally had not spread the news about her peculiar nature and she took care to hide her pointed ears beneath a white, soft-woollen palla Maximus had given to her and that complimented her skin. She never received strange looks, but very natural ones, as she was a beautiful woman. But the legionaries knew she was their general's property and none of them ever tried to make advances in her regards. Truth to tell, the men were pleased their beloved leader had taken a woman in his quarters: they all knew what had happened to his wife and how her death had hit him, and they were happy to see he was starting to recover from his tragedy.

Only Marius, the centurion who had first discovered the creature, had some reservations about her sharing his general's quarters and life, at least in the beginning. But then he thought about Maximus, whose feats on the battlefields and arenas were now legends; the man that had risen from his ashes as the Arab Phoenix; the man who had defied and defeated a tyrant emperor while being only a slave, and decided he had no reason to be worried about a woman, strange or normal she might be. Thus Marius relaxed, enjoying like the rest of the troops, the smile she had brought on Maximus' lips.

As time passed, Maximus became aware his fascination for T-ally had increased and deepened, going beyond mere curiosity for her different ways and manners. He was interested in her like a man in a woman, and it was not a matter of simple lust. He was falling in love.

It was the first time in so many years, it had almost been a shock for him when he had realized it. But he had recovered quickly, happy to discover his heart had finally healed. He would never forget Selene, and would always regret the life they could not share. But now it was time to move on and he was sure his late wife would have approved, even if the woman that had awoken his love was so different from her, him and mankind in general. Sometimes he thought he had to be mad to have such deep feelings for such a strange creature, but he always ended up pushing that idea away. He did not care. He was ready to take his risks with her, after all he had nothing to lose and all to gain. But it was easier to say than to do...He did not know anything about the Vulcan's customs concerning relationships and courting and he was afraid to make a wrong move towards T-ally...to somehow offend or scare her. Thus he began to closely observe her when they were alone, spying her moves and reactions to him, trying to discover if she felt mere gratitude for him, or if she at least found him attractive as a male.

It was not a simple task, but Maximus was a patient man and he was determinate to succeed.

A strange object flying in the sky attracted T'ally's eye and she stopped arranging the furs on Maximus' just re-made bed and looked outside the window to see what was happening. Beyond the fortress walls several older legionaries were teaching to the recruits how to handle the catapults. T'ally watched as one of the centurions instructed a young man, before another stone bullet was unleashed by the machine to land in the open country. Then she let her gaze sweep another time over the entire military compound. The Romans might have been primitive by her standards but their army organization was impressive: no wonder they were the masters of much of the known world, as Maximus had told her. Maximus...Almost without volition she took the fur she still had in her hand and brought it to her face, sniffing the general's natural scent. It was so masculine and clean...Mentally shaking her self, she returned to the task at hand and deposited the fur on the bed. Then she looked around the quarters to check another time that everything was in order. Her black eyes scanned the room, once again comparing the simple, warm furniture in dark wood to the cold, hi-tech furnishing she was used to. The simple utensils she could see on the table or the cupboard were similar to those she had admired in her planet's historical museums, a clear proof that despite their physiological diversities, Humans and Vulcans were not so different from each other.

Satisfied everything was in its place, T'ally picked up a scroll from the pile resting on a table and sat down on a couch to read it: Maximus had gone out of the fortress to check the condition of the section of the Hadrian's Wall trusted to his care, and she did not expect him to return for a long time. T'ally loved to read: it was a pleasurable and useful way to occupy her time, for it allowed her to know more about the Roman's History and traditions. It also allowed her to delve deeper into Maximus' tastes, helping her to come to know him better. She was fascinated by him, and she wanted to discover everything about him. On more than one occasion she had wished to delicately probe his mind, wishing to feel his thoughts fill her, but she had refrained, for she could not do it without his permission. The first time it had been necessary to learn how to communicate with him, but now she had no excuses, except her desire. T'ally wondered about how Master Surak would have judged her, but even that sobering thought did not ease what was quickly becoming a need.

Her musings were interrupted by a loud commotion coming from the corridor, caused by many, worried voices speaking at the same time.

"We must put him to bed!"

"Where is Valerianus?"

"Antonius has gone to fetch him!"

"I hope he is quick, he is losing so much blood!"

The voices came nearer and then the door of Maximus' quarters was slammed open, as several soldiers rushed inside carrying a stretcher. T'ally jumped on her feet and her eyes widened in horror when she saw they were transporting an unconscious, deadly pale Maximus.

She followed the men into the general's bedroom and watched as they moved him to his bed. Her eyes scanned his form and a strangled cry escaped her when she saw the condition of his left leg: it was covered by red liquid she understood to be Human blood and it seemed bent in an unnatural way.

"What happened?" Another man burst on the scene and the legionaries surrounding the bed moved aside to let him pass.

"Valerianus, the General's horse broke down, and dragged him in its fall. His leg was trapped under the beast's weight."

"Uhm..." The surgeon cut away Maximus' breeches and bared the injured limb. A collective gasp was heard in the room as the blood-soaked fabric was pushed away to reveal the abused leg. The bones of his knee had broken, lacerating the skin and white splits were visible among the torn muscles. T'ally felt nauseous at the sight and the smell of blood, and her heart twisted painfully knowing it was Maximus' blood.

The doctor cursed under his breath, then looked at the assembled group, "I am afraid there is not much I can do for him."

"What?" The soldiers said almost in unison, their voices disbelieving.

"The bones are smashed and the marrow was contaminated by dirt...I will remove the bones splints and cauterise the wound, but I don't think he will survive the infection."

"Can't-can't you amputate the leg?" Asked one of the legionaries and T'ally, who had listened horrified to Valerianus' words, almost fainted at the mere idea of what it would entreat.

"No." A deep, defeated sigh, "He is too weak, he would never survive the operation - and then I think I would cause him only useless pain." The doctor swallowed hard, "The only thing I can do is ease his suffering and let fate run its course."

A heavy silence fell on the room as everyone understood what the surgeon had just said. Without adding more, Valerianus bent over his patient and using long iron instruments probed the wound and removed the piece of bone. Then he took a knife from his leather bag and put it on the charcoal brazier until it was hot enough. "Keep him still," the surgeon ordered and T'ally watched as the soldiers grabbed Maximus' arms and legs and pressed him to the bed. The heated steel was laid against the wound and a smell of burned flesh invaded the room. Some of the legionaries turned deadly pale and seemed on the verge of vomiting, but Maximus remained blessedly unconscious. Valerianus then smeared the angry red skin with a poultice ad wrapped it in soft, clean bandages.

After that, with the help of the soldiers, Maximus was freed from his uniform and dressed In a clean nightshirt. By the time he was made comfortable on his bed, sweat had already begun to appear on his forehead and his cheeks reddened. The surgeon laid his hand against the general's brow and confirmed what everyone already knew: a high fever had set.

"Slave? Slave!" It took T'ally some moments to understand Valerianus was speaking to her.

"Yes, sir?"

"What's your name?"

"T'ally."

"Well, T-ally, are you loyal to your master?" The doctor's brown eyes stared hard at her.

"With all my being." She answered with utter sincerity.

"Good." He nodded satisfied, "I need your help. I will send some soldier to collect cold water from the stream and you will use it to sponge bath your master with regularity. I am going to prepare a herbal tea to ease his pain and combat the infection. I will return as soon as I can."

"Yes, sir."

"As for you," the surgeon said to the soldiers, "return to your duties: you cannot do anything for him and too many persons breathing near him will do no good for him. I will keep you updated on his condition."

The men nodded unwillingly, but obeyed, leaving the room after throwing a last look at their general's still form, and Valerianus followed them.

As soon as they were alone, T'ally took a chair and dragged it near the bed, sitting down and staring at Maximus' face. He looked so fragile and defenceless! She knew Humans were weaker than Vulcans, but till that moment Maximus had seemed to be stronger than he really was. It had been his iron will and powerful personality to give that impression, but now that he was unconscious his fragility hit her hard and she felt a lump form in her throat.

T'ally spent the following several hours at Maximus' side, sponging his burning body as the fever got worse, giving him water to replace the fluids he was losing by sweating, and keeping him still when delirium made him thrash in the bed. When it happened his harsh cries and burning, unfocused eyes overwhelmed her with despair - she could not bear to see him suffer so much - so she was actually happy when the delirium stopped and he lost his senses once again. She hoped it might be a good sign, but when Valerianus came the next time to check Maximus' condition, she saw no relief or satisfaction on his tired face. Instead she noticed a few tears escape his eyes. "It is almost the end," he said defeated, "he is so weak... I don't think he will survive the night." Then he went away, his head lowered, his steps lacking energy.

The world ceased to exist as the terrible truth of those words echoed in her mind. Maximus was going to die, for an injury that on Vulcan would have been cured in a few minutes, but that was irreparable for the Roman medical science. It was terrible. It was unfair. For the first time since she had been an untrained child, T'ally felt her emotions become so powerful she could not control them any longer and she sought relief in tears, falling to her knees near Maximus, and lowering her head on his chest, as her right hand caressed his burning forehead and cheeks.

In the years that would follow, T'ally would never know if it was a simple coincidence that her fingers lined along Maximus' meld points, or if she did it unconsciously, but she soon found herself inside his mind, surrounded by pain and suffering. But beneath that whirlwind of ravaging illness, she saw the still burning flame of Maximus' will to live. It was weak, and it was fading quickly, but it was alive. There was only one thing T'ally could do and she did it, forgetting Vulcan ethic and Surak's teachings. She closed her eyes and concentrated, shutting the world out until she fell in the healing trance her people used to mend their own bodies. She channelled the healing energy generated by her mind on Maximus, giving him strength, helping the regenerative process of his cells and fighting the infection that was killing him.

T'ally did not know how much time she had passed in deep meld with Maximus, but she gradually became aware that the infection had completely disappeared, while the general's inner strength and life force had increased. He was now out of danger and it was time for her to leave him. She began to retreat from his mind, but she suddenly found herself surrounded by Maximus' essence, which now blocked her.

<<Who is here?>> he asked.

<<It's me, Maximus,>> she answered, surprised he had been able to feel her inside him.

<<T-ally?>> There was amazement in his voice, but no fear. <<What are you doing here?>>

<<I helped you to mend from a very serious injury.>>

<<Another of your Vulcan tricks?>>

<<Yes....>> If the circumstances had been different, T'ally would have laughed at his joke, but the situation was becoming dangerous for her. As Maximus reflected about her words, she sensed his mental strength grow even stronger, as the barrier circling her took the shape of a solid wall. Maximus was curious and he wanted to keep her with him. But it was risky, terribly so. T'ally had been weakened by their long meld and she was in peril to remain trapped inside his mind forever - leading both of them to madness - if she did not leave at once. She felt panic rise inside her, but tried to keep it under control, as she sensed Maximus' consciousness delicately probe her memories.

<<Maximus.>> She said, putting as much authority as she could in her tone. <<Maximus, you must let me go. Now.>>

<<Why?>>

<<Because it is becoming dangerous.>>

<<Oh. I am sorry. I- I did not know.>> He sounded so mortified, she felt the need to reassure him.

<<It's all right. Nothing bad has happened. But I must leave.>>

<<As you wish...>> The wall that imprisoned her vanished and T'ally retreated at once, leaving Maximus' mind and returning into her own. Just before she slipped out, she heard his warm voice murmur <<Thank you T-ally....>>

She was still smiling as her eyes focused back on the room around her. She took a deep breath, before standing up. Her knees screamed in protest and she wondered how much time she had passed kneeling: for once her Vulcan sense of timing did not work, probably because of her tiredness. T'ally was exhausted, but the sight of Maximus sleeping quietly, his breath even and his cheeks no longer flushed with fever, made her feel as good as she had never been.

With a last look at the slumbering Human,  T'ally walked to her bunk and fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

The large field surrounded her, its fragrant, sweet smell filling her nose. She was standing in the middle of it and the golden-bronze, thigh-high grass waved in the wind. She had never seen that kind of vegetation, but she knew its name was wheat. She looked around her and saw an unknown landscape of gently rolling hills, blond fields and tall trees stretch as far as her eyes could see. It was peaceful and beautiful. Suddenly, two horses appeared along a road in the distance: they were galloping in her direction, whinnying in welcome. She advanced till she reached the gravel-covered lane and waited for the two steeds to approach her, their dark bay coats shining under the sun. They stopped, and she reached out her hand to caress the nearest animal's soft muzzle, but she stilled when she noticed that the fingers in front of her were not her long, slender ones, but were thick and calloused. A man's fingers. Maximus' fingers.

T'ally snapped awake with a start, jumping to sit on the bed, her eyes wide in the dark, as she heard Maximus' voice. <<Argento, Scarto, how are you my old boys?>> But he had not spoken aloud: he had done it in his dream and his voice had echoed in her mind, as the dream itself.

She closed her eyes and once again the images of Trujillo, Maximus' homeland, invaded her. But how was it possible? How could his mind reach for hers without any physical contact between them? T'ally freed her head from any thought and tracked down the origin of Maximus' images. And thus she found it. A bond. A bond-link that tied her mind to Maximus', in the strongest way that could join a Vulcan to another person. An unbreakable, indestructible, death-bond, which would bind them forever.

Loud cheering welcomed  Maximus as he walked into the praetorium for the first time since the accident had happened, more than a month before. The soldiers had temporary left their occupations to be present when their general - he would always be so, even if the legion was now under another man's command - took his first steps outdoor, wishing to ascertain with their own eyes he was really fine. He was, even if he still needed crutches to walk and he looked a bit pale. But the smile on Valerianus' face confirmed everything was going to be well for Maximus, even if the old doctor was still searching for an explanation for his general's recovery. "Miracle" was the only fitting word to describe what had happened. One night the surgeon had dropped exhaustedly on his bed, heart broken and powerless, knowing that at his awakening he would almost surely have found his leader and friend dead, only to wake up the next morning to discover that not only was his patient still alive, but that his infection and fever had disappeared. His leg just needed time to mend the bones. It had been the most amazing thing Valerianus had seen and, although as a man of science he did not like mysteries, for once he had accepted what had happened without questioning it too much, simply choosing to believe it was another demonstration the gods did not want to let Maximus die.

Maximus was sitting on his bed, his back against the headboard, his legs stretched in front of him. His muscles were tired and tense, but he had been pleased by how his healed knee was moving. He had sustained a very serious injury and it would have needed time to return to peak efficiency. No, Maximus was not worried about remaining lame, he was more concerned about T-ally's behaviour. Since the day he had regained his consciousness after his fever, the Vulcan woman had been distant, even cold with him, even if she continued to care for his health with great attention. She helped him with the exercises Valerianus had instructed him to do to regain the use of his knee, and she massaged his back every night, her wonderful fingers dissolving the soreness his incorrect way of walking caused to his muscles, thus enabling him to rest well. But when her "duties" ended, she retreated into her own shell, always silent and preferring to spend her evenings alone and reading. Maximus was missing their long, after-dinner conversations, when they would have talked about their homelands, or commented something she had read in one of his scrolls. And even more importantly, he was missing the warmth of her smiles and casual little touches when she got excited about something new.

He was also feeling powerless for he had the distinct sensation that something was bothering the woman and he wanted to help her, but every time he tried to speak with her, she said everything was fine. Also- also there was the question concerning the strange dreams he had been experiencing lately about a strange land with two suns and no moon.... a place where people all looked like T-ally...

The object of his musings crossed the room with a pile of folded clothes, and once again Maximus noticed how sad she appeared to be. His heart constricted at her obvious pain and he decided it was time to get some answers: they could not go on like this for much longer, and he wished - no, wanted - back the woman he had fallen in love with.

"T-ally, please take a chair and sit here near me. We need to talk." He used his most commanding voice and it startled her enough to stop any excuse she might have found. She did as she had been told, and waited for him to speak, her head lowered avoiding his gaze.

"Do you remember the first night we talked, T-ally? Do you remember how I promised to protect you?" He began and saw her nod and dart a quick look at him. "When I said so, I did it because I thought it was my responsibility, but also because I wished for you to be my friend. Time passed, we came to know each other, and we became friends.... did we not ?" She nodded again and Maximus continued, pleased she was listening to him. "Well, T-ally, I am now speaking to you as a concerned friend." And as a man in love with you, but he did not say it aloud. "What happened T-ally? Why are you no longer talking to me? Did I do something wrong? Was I disrespectful with you? Please explain to me." She almost jumped as he reached out and took her hand in his own. "Talk to me, please," he said with intensity, as she finally raised her eyes to look at him. He saw her swallow hard, then she nodded another time, but with an air of resolution.

"You are right, Maximus, we need to talk. I need...to beg your pardon for my shameful behaviour."

Maximus frowned at her choice of words: "shameful" was too hard an adjective for how she had been behaving in the last days.

"You don't need to apologize, I just would like to know why you are so sad."

"Because I committed a terrible act. I violated your mind."

Maximus' eyes widened, "You did what?"

"I violated your mind. It is like a rape, only that it is mental, not physical." T-ally hung her head in shame and he realized that was a really serious matter for her.

"How.... how did it happen? Please explain to me, I don't even know of what are you talking about."

"Vulcans are telepaths... it means they have the ability to communicate with their minds. It is usually done while touching each other and it is very common for us, especially between family members and very close friends." She stopped and looked at him to gauge his reaction. Maximus nodded and she continued, "We are also able to control our bodies and to "channel" our life force, directing it to our organs or limbs, to heal ourselves when we are wounded or ill." She paused a little and he encouraged her to go on: nothing of what he heard had till that moment seemed very bad, although it was certainly very strange!

"The night of the incident your condition worsened so much Valerianus was sure you would have died before the morning and he said there was nothing he could do to save you...the marrow of your bones had been infected and so..." T-ally looked away for a moment, trying to compose herself, but when she returned to face him there were tears in her eyes. "I-I entered your mind that night and I helped your body to overcome the infection...sharing my life force with you."

Maximus stared at her stunned, but still believing her. Valerianus had told him more than once it was a miracle he was still alive, and now he knew that miracle had a name: T-ally. He did not doubt her for a moment: she was telling the truth, he knew it in his heart and mind.

"Please, forgive me, Maximus..." T-ally's voice intruded his thoughts and he saw she was now crying.

"Forgive you? For what? I should be down on my knees and thank you instead! You saved my life! You saved me! How could I ever call it rape? I think it was a wonderful gesture...a gesture of caring...of love." Maximus was awed and overwhelmed by what she had done for him, and his gratitude showed in his voice, but to his surprise his words failed to improve T-ally's mood.

She remained with her head lowered. "You don't know everything."

"Then tell me."

"I lost control of the meld while we were joined and something irreparable happened...."

"What?" He urged her.

"Our minds forged a bond. An unbreakable mental bond that will tie us for the rest of our lives."

"Oh." Maximus fell silent, as he pondered what she had said. Bonded for life.... It should scare him, worry him, instead it did not sound so bad. To the contrary, it gave him a sense of belonging he had not felt since his family had died. He belonged to T-ally and she to him... His body reacted to the last idea and a shiver ran along his spine. A shiver of desire.

"Is- is this bond-thing like a marriage for your people?"

T'ally arched an eyebrow, unable to hide her surprise. "How can you know it?"

"Then it is so?"

"Yes, it is the ultimate joining between two Vulcans."

"That's interesting." Maximus could not help but smile. The idea to be "married" to T-ally was extremely pleasing.

Her eyes widened in shock. "You find it interesting? You are not angry?"

He returned serious. "No, I am not angry. Instead I quite like the idea. It is totally foreign to everything I have known and experienced in my life, but it also sounds so beautiful... Can you show me how this "bond" works?"

"Do you really want it? Are you sure?"

"Of course." Maximus had never been so sure in his entire life.

T-ally left her chair to sit on the mattress near him, and raised her right hand to his face. "Close your eyes." She whispered and he did so. He felt her fingers press against his temple and cheek and then sensed a sensation of warmth as something slipped into his mind. It seemed like he was being probed and he instinctively backed away from it.

<<Shh, Maximus, relax. It's me, T-ally.>>

<<T-ally...it is really you. I can feel it. You are here...in me.>>

<<Yes.>>

<<It is beautiful. Strange, different...but beautiful.>>

<<Yes it is.>> And he sensed her smile at his awe. 

<<Can you show me something about yourself- about your home?>>

<<Yes, I can.>>

A river of images flooded into his mind: an arid desert with naked rocks.....a sky red as blood....two suns shining during the days but no moon to lighten the nights...people looking like T-ally moving on strange chariots without horses and wheels, moving a few feet over the ground....enormous cities of tall, sky-scraping buildings made of glass and iron....space vessels flying in the sky...reaching for new planets...landing and departing for interstellar journeys...T-ally sitting at the helm of her own space ship...a fire destroying her engine....her desperate attempt to steady the vessel and control her fall...she emerging from the smoking metal wrecks....Marius and the legionaries capturing her and taking her to the fortress...

The images ceased and T-ally straightened, retreating from his mind. Maximus opened his eyes and found she was staring anxiously at him, wanting to gauge his reaction to what he had just seen. A slow smile spread on his face. "It is beautiful... your world.... Thank you." His tone was awed. "I could never have imagined something like that...Another inhabited planet.. that's almost incredible." He remained silent for a while, digesting all that astonishing information, then he asked, "Can I do the same? Show you my home?"

"Yes, you can. But for this time I will guide you. Your mind is still untrained, but I am sure you will master the skills very soon." Speaking so, T-ally took his hand and pressed his fingers against her cheekbone and temple. Maximus felt pleasure coursing through him as they touched, but he repressed it quickly - it was not the time. "These are called meld-points," T-ally explained, "For the moment it is necessary to establish a contact between us to communicate, but in the future we will be able to do so without touching." Maximus nodded. "Now, try to concentrate...you must come inside me. Think about my mind like a room...picture a door and your hand pressing it open...yes, yes like that..."

Maximus felt once again surrounded by that warm presence he now knew was T-ally. <<Well done, Maximus, you are in. Now think about your home, recall your memories of it...show it to me..>>

He did as she had told him to do and a series of images flashed into his mind: gold and bronzed fields of wheat and oats waving, their spikes swollen...a light breeze ruffling them...the sun disappearing behind the hills near Trujillo....orderly rows of vineyards...olive trees colouring the landscape with the green-grey colour of their leaves...a tortuous stream running between fields ...a pink-stoned villa surrounded by cypresses ...a tall poplar near the gate...two graves covered by multicoloured flowers...wild ponies running free....

After a while Maximus seemed to have lost his focus as a thought intruded his memories: would T-ally like to live there with me?

<<Yes, Maximus,>> came the prompt reply, <<I would love to live there with you.>> T-ally took a deep breath and plunged on, <<You must know this: I love you. I started to love you from the moment your mind first brushed mine, the night of my capture, when you tended to my arm.>>

Maximus had not any doubt about what he had heard, her sincerity was all around him, surrounding him like a warm cloak, but the joy her words caused made him lose his concentration- he slid out of her mind.

"What happened?" he asked, blinking his eyes to focus his vision. He was shaken by the suddenness with which the meld had ended, and he felt a sense of great loss.

"Nothing serious. You are still an untrained novice in this and your mind lost its "grip" on mine."

"Oh. Can you help me to regain it?" He wished to return to her again- it was such a wonderful feeling..

"Not today. It is a very draining experience for a beginner, as you soon will discover."

"I see." Maximus lowered his head to conceal his disappointment, but he was not quick enough.

"What is it?" T-ally enquired concerned, her delicate fingers posing on his cheek.

He raised his eyes to look at her, "It's just I- I wished to be in your mind when I tell you I love you too...so you would know how sincere I am..."

"But I already know!" T-ally smiled and cupped his face with her hands, "You can't possibly imagine how many things your mind has revealed to me. I know you love me...and you don't know how happy it makes me."

Maximus smiled, his own hand rising to caress her cheek and smooth her silky hair. They looked at each other for a long while, then his eyes dropped to her full lips and he murmured hoarsely, "Do Vulcans kiss?"

"Yes...and they make love too," she smiled playfully, before returning serious as he was.

Maximus' blood heated up at her words, but all of sudden he felt a terrible exhaustion crash over him. He had barely time to bend his head forward and brush T-ally's lips, before sleep claimed him.

T'ally was awoken by a light stirring in her mind. She blinked her eyes to focus her vision - as a Vulcan she slept with her eyes open - and became aware of her surroundings. She was lying on Maximus' bed and he was resting behind her, spooned against her back.

The evening before, drained by their meld, Maximus had fallen asleep from one moment to the other and, after making him comfortable, she had slipped into bed with him, for she could not accept to be away from him after such an intense mental joining. During the night, Maximus had moved closer to her, and was now circling her waist with his muscled arm, as if he too could not bear to be apart after the wondrous revelations of the previous hours.

T'ally caressed his hand and remained quiet, wanting to savour his warmth and closeness. She loved to touch Maximus - his skin, although hardened by a life spent outdoor, was softer than that of a Vulcan male - and had taken a liking for his touches too. Indeed she was beginning to think Master Surak might not be totally right in wanting to banish emotions - and their physical manifestations - from her people's every day life.

Few minutes later she felt another stirring in her mind, and this time she realized it was the first signal Maximus was waking up. As soon as she understood that, she also became aware his body had awoken too, and he was now pressing his morning arousal against her buttocks. The thought filled T'ally with excitement. A lot of time had passed since she last had sex and she craved it, as illogical as it might sound. Surak was teaching to the Vulcans to refrain from sexual intercourses before the bonding ceremony, because they unleashed powerful emotions, which were totally wrong for the peace and calm of spirit he wanted to achieve. Vulcans were a violent race, strongly driven by their basic instincts and in a not so remote past, they had risked extinction because, during the mating periods, the males became too violent in their quest for females, killing each other in ferocious combats, until they had almost disappeared. Surak had been working to make sure this issue wouldn't repeat again. T'ally could see the wisdom of his beliefs, but she also thought sexual joinings, even without the need to procreate, were not necessary a bad thing. To the contrary, they could be beautiful if done with the right person, and that was the reason that pushed her to press her bottom closer to Maximus, rubbing it against his groin until she felt his member become harder and larger.

"What are you doing?" Maximus' still sleepy voice murmured in her ear.

"I believe it is clear: I am stimulating your manhood. I wish to have a sexual intercourse with you."

He came completely awake with a start and through their bond she could sense how shocked he was by her bold statement. Perhaps it was not a Roman custom for a woman to be so explicit in sexual matters? T'ally shrugged mentally: she was more than willing to adapt to his world outside his quarters, behaving like a submissive wife as she had seen other women do, but inside them she would be herself. She loved Maximus with all the strength of her Vulcan passion and she wanted to share physical intimacy with him.

Thus she continued her arousing movements, until his arm tightened around her and he pulled her body till she lay on her back. He moved atop of her and, his blue-green eyes burning with desire. "I want you."

"I too want you."

He lowered his head and his mouth made a first, tentative contact with hers. In the beginning it was a mere brushing of lips, but soon it became a full assault and he slipped his tongue inside her, all the while rubbing himself against her legs. T'ally knew he was less strong than her, but all her strength seemed to disappear as he took control of her body, his male power almost a living entity. His emotions, his lust and want, invaded her mind, like a river breaking a dam sweeps away everything on its path. T'ally felt overwhelmed by it and instinctively raised her mental barriers to keep him at bay. But it did not stop the flood of feelings, it only made their effect more powerful, as they slammed against their shields with increasing vigour as Maximus' passion mounted. T'ally started to panic and her inner struggle became a physical one too.

"Stop, Maximus, stop!" She pushed at his shoulders and almost threw him off the bed.

Maximus grabbed the headboard just in time to avoid a fall and then looked at her, surprised and a bit hurt. "What is it T-ally? Did I do something wrong?"

"No...yes...no.. It's just you are overwhelming me."

"Am I rushing too much? Am I too fast for you? Do you need me to go slower?" She could hear guilt in his tone and she hurried to reassure him.

"No, my love, it is not your body. It is your emotions: they are too strong for me. You have yet to learn how to control our bond and you are now invading my mind like...one of your barbarian hordes." T'ally tried to explain. Had he been born in a highly technological world like her own, she would have compared their link to an engine he must learn to turn on and turn off, but given the fact he did not know what an engine was, she would have to find other examples to help him understand.

Maximus frowned at her analogy and his face fell. "Does this mean we won't be able to make love till I am able to control my mind?"

"No- not necessarily. Just leave me a few moments to search for a solution."

He nodded eagerly and T'ally could not help but smile at his expression. Then she shut the world out and turned her senses inwardly, thinking back to what had happened and to how she had been taught to control her mind when she was a child. The solution appeared easily to her. She had not to resist to Maximus' emotions, she had just to channel them and let them run their course.

She blinked her yes and returned her focus on Maximus. "Come here," she whispered opening her arms.

He did not need further encouragement: he was soon back atop her, his passionate kisses and even more passionate emotions heating her blood, till she too became crazy with desire.

They separated for few seconds, tearing at each other's clothes, frantic to increase the contact between them. T'ally had barely time to catch a glimpse of Maximus' hardness before he dropped once again to lie atop of her, but she was not disappointed: there would be more occasions to really look at him. She ran her hands along Maximus' flanks and back - those same flanks and back she had massaged and longed to caress - luxuriating in the feel of his soft skin and bulging muscles moving under it. Vulcan men were lithe and she loved the difference between them and him. She was also intrigued by the scars he sported near his neck, lower back and left arm. Vulcan medical science could have eliminated them in a few minutes, but they somehow fitted the warrior Maximus was and she was sure each of those marks, had a story to tell, a story she hoped would soon know-

but now it was not the time. T'ally probed the link to discover what he thought of her as a woman: did he find her as attractive as she found him?

"You are so beautiful..." Maximus murmured against her lips, as if on reply, as his big, calloused hands caressed her small but proud breasts, fingering her nipples until they were hard and erect as his manhood, which burned hot trapped as it was between their bellies. He then lowered his head to her breasts and pleasured them with his mouth, licking, sucking and slightly biting them. T'ally moaned aloud and dug her fingers into his muscles, totally overcome by his physical and emotional assault. The need to join with him, both in body and mind, became unbearable and she widened her legs, making him slide in position.

"I need you, Maximus. Now. Please come to me... I am ready, don't make me wait anymore." She begged and he lost no time to obey her plead. He thrust into her, his groans and moans mingling with hers, and T'ally thought she had never felt as much pleasure in her entire life. Her right hand rose and blindly searched for his meld points, joining their minds as much as their bodies. The pleasure they were experiencing travelled back and forth their link and their feelings and emotions mingled together, as they worked their sweat-covered bodies to reach their fulfilment. Maximus' thrusts became harder and deeper, as T'ally felt herself tighten around him, until their self-control vanished and they both exploded at the same time. Their minds came together, transforming them, for few, ecstatic seconds that looked like an eternity, in only one being, one soul in one body, before they slowly separated, pleasure still coursing through their veins.

When recovered her awareness, T'ally found herself slumped on the bed, totally drained but incredibly happy for what she - they - had just experienced. Maximus had collapsed atop of her, and was resting with his head buried into her neck. He was still panting, and T'ally caressed his sweaty back, her quiet rhythm helping him to regain his control. He finally raised his head to look at her. His eyes were languid, and full of wonder and awe.

"What happened, T-ally?" he asked, his voice throaty, "I have never felt something like that before... Did you feel it too?"

"Yes," she whispered, smoothing his damp hair and brushing his beard, her eyes never leaving his, "Our minds were joined at the moment we reached our climax and that has increased our sensations and pleasure."

"It was like a ball of light, warmth and well-being had exploded and surrounded us..." 

"That's a good description, T'hyla," she commented, raising her head to kiss him.

"T-hyla?" Maximus looked at her curiously, "What does it mean?"

"It means "friend, brother, lover"; it means you are the most important person in my life." Overcome by emotion, T'ally hugged him with strength, causing Maximus to grunt in surprise and discomfort. "Forgive me!" she exclaimed, loosening her embrace.

"There is nothing to apologize for! I am not used to a woman being stronger than me, but I am sure I will get used to it, T-hyla." T'ally's eyes widened at the use of that word and he enquired, "Is it correct to use it for a female?"

"Yes it is- it is just I have never heard someone say it to me. I like it very much." She smiled shyly, and Maximus replied with a grin of his own, before lowering his mouth to claim her lips in a gentle kiss. "I like it too, and I plan to use it many times in the future. But for now," and he rolled onto his back, pulling her with him till she rested on his chest, "I wish to use my language: I love you T-ally, mea amata."

"I love you, Maximus, meus amatus."

They smiled at each other, then adjusted their embrace and fell asleep once again, while outside his quarters a new day was dawning, the beginning of their luminous future together.

Epilogue - Hispania, 186AD, summer.

T'ally was walking along the gravel-covered little lane with led to the orchard. Hanging from her arm she had an empty basket she was hoping to fill with mature figs, one of the Earthen fruits she liked most. It was early afternoon and the field workers were resting as the sun burned high in the sky. But for her Vulcan physiology, the hot climate and bright light were not a problem and she used that moment of total quietness, when even the animals dozed off, to meditate. When Master Surak had taught her the meditation, it had been to make her learn to control emotions and banish them from her being, but now she used that technique to explore her feelings and come to understand herself better. Life on Earth was much different from that she had led on Vulcan, but the lack of the commodities she had been used to, had been more than compensated by a new world to discover and, more importantly, by Maximus' nearness. Of course she sometimes missed her home planet, but the feeling was always fleeting.

T'ally stepped in the shadows of the trees and began to pick the ripe fruits, humming to herself - a habit taken from her Human husband. As it happened often, the mere thought of Maximus brought a smile to her lips. He had turned to be everything a woman, Vulcan or Human, could desire: intelligent, reliable, honourable and tender. He had a great strength of will and had perfectly learnt how to use their bond-link, and their marriage was extremely satisfying for both of them, mentally, sentimentally and physically. Their only regret was they were not able to have children. T'ally had gotten pregnant many times, but every time she had miscarried the foetus a couple of days after its conception, for Maximus' iron-based blood and cells were incompatible with her copper-based ones. Had they been on Vulcan, perhaps her people's medical science could have helped them, but her planet was far away and she knew Maximus would never be able to live on it: it would be too hot for him and the gravity too high.

So lost she was in her musing she almost did not notice the flash of light near her until it coalesced into a solid form. The shape of a man T'ally believed she would not be seeing again.

"Master Surak!" she stammered, utterly shocked and the older Vulcan arched an eyebrow at the emotions she had not been able to control.

"T'ally. It is very good to find you so well. We were concerned about you. So much time has passed since your disappearance."

"One year, five months, seventeen days, two hours, twenty minutes and four seconds." She quoted, appealing on her Vulcan sense of timing. But for her it seemed like a lifetime ago.

Surak nodded, "Come here, it is time to go home."

T'ally's eyes widened in alarm, and she stepped back from her teacher. "I am not coming, Master, my home is here now."

"Here?" The Vulcan man looked around him, to the large, placid expanse of the farm.

"Indeed."

"It is a beautiful place, very restful, but it is not for you. This world is so primitive."

"It certainly is. But it Is also very interesting; every day I learn something new. And even more importantly, this is my bondmate's estate and thus my rightful place to be."

"Your bondmate?" This time even the great Surak was not able to control his surprise.

"Indeed. His name is Maximus and he is a former warrior and now a farmer. All the land you can see around you belongs to him." T'ally said with pride.

"But he is not of our race...."

"I know; his race calls itself "Humans"." She smiled, thinking about how much she loved Maximus' humanness.

"Tell me how it happened."

T'ally's smile fell, but she did not hesitate to tell her mentor everything that had happened between her and Maximus. Surak listened to her with attention and in the end sighed, "What you did was very dangerous, T'ally. You had a meld with an unknown, untrained mind. You must be grateful nothing worse happened. You might have remained trapped inside him and you would have both gone mad.."

"I know- but Maximus was dying and the healing trance was his only chance..." 

"I see." Surak nodded, then added, not too convinced, "I could try to break the bond, if you wish."

"You cannot, Master. It is a death-bond. It will join us for the rest of our lives and in our death too. And even if you could break it, I would not wish for it."

"But these Humans' life-span is very short compared to ours- do you know it? I discovered it while adjusting my ship instruments to reveal the differences between them and us and thus be able to locate you."

"I know. But it does not change my mind. I love Maximus, I started to love him long before the bond was formed." T'ally took a deep breath, "Using my mind's strength, I will help his more fragile body to remain strong and healthy much longer than his nature would normally allow him, but when his time will come, I will go with him with no regrets." She spoke with a clear, decisive voice, and Surak could not help but approve.

"You are a much worthy daughter of Vulcan," he said, and his tone betrayed his pride. He reached beneath his clothes and took out an object, which he pressed into her hand. "Here, take this. When your bondmate's time comes, use it and call us. We will come to take both of you on Vulcan, thus both your katras will be able to rest for eternity on Mount Seleya, the places where the spirits of Vulcan's greatest people reside."

T'ally stared at the communicator, then raised her eyes to look at her Master's, unable to believe to the great honour just granted to her.

Surak's lips curved in a smile, "You are living our IDIC* philosophy to its fullest and you and your husband will be an example for the future generations."

"Thank you." T'ally murmured, even if she already knew she would never call Vulcan: she had been in Maximus' mind too many times for not knowing how he longed to see his first wife Selene and his boy Marcus again. He needed to go to his Elysium when his time was coming and she would not condemn him to spend eternity in a foreign world. As for herself, she would go with him: as she had just said to Surak, her place was at his side, now and forever.

T'ally and the Vulcan man remained to stare at each other, knowing they would soon have to part, but none of them wanting to be the first one to leave.

It was when Maximus' mind called for her.

<<T-ally, where are you?>> She smiled at the way he continued to pronounce her name. <<The bed is cold without you...>>

<<In the middle of the summer?>> she joked.

<<You know what I mean...>> his voice became a suggestive whisper.

<<Yes, I know.>> she murmured back, remembering their after-lunch love play and how she had left Maximus to go to the orchard: naked, satiated and asleep in their bed.

Maximus caressed the pleasure centres in her brain and she shivered with desire. <<Don't do it...>> she whispered weakly.

<<Why not? You like it.>> His voice was teasing and full of mischief: the bond-link was still a novelty for him and he loved to "play" with it.

<<Indeed. But I prefer to be in bed with you when you do so.>>

<<All right, I will stop. Where are you?>>

<<I am in the orchard. What about you?>> Normally she would have been able to know where Maximus was without much thinking - and he would have been able to find her with a bit of concentration - but she was shielding from him her encounter with Surak and that blocked the directional tie between them.

<<I am coming your way, I will help you pick the figs.>>

<<Wonderful.>>

The mental link fell silent and T'ally returned to focus on Surak. "My husband is coming here."

"When it is really time I leave." Surak raised his right hand and made a V with his hand, "Live long and prosper, T'ally." He said, looking straight into her eyes.

"Live long and prosper," she repeated the traditional Vulcan salute.

Then Surak spoke in his intercom and soon he was gone in a sparkle of light.

T'ally let out a deep sigh, then turned around, her sadness disappearing as soon as she saw Maximus step into the orchard.

* Infinite Diversities In Infinite Combinations.

Using a little monitor of his space ship, Surak watched as T'ally threw herself into the arms of her Human husband. He had been curious about the man who had stolen his pupil's heart, and what he saw pleased him: Maximus was shorter but sturdier than a Vulcan male; his beard and hair were dark, with just a few silver strands near the temples. He seemed to be in peak form and he was very much in love with his wife, as his warm kisses and embrace demonstrated.

A slow smile spread on Surak's face, soon becoming a full grin: emotions were wrong for many Vulcans, but in T'ally's case there was no doubt they were right and necessary. He continued to stare at the affectionate pair for a long while, knowing very well a lot of centuries would have to pass before another mixed couple would be formed, and wishing to press his favourite pupil in his mind, but when he saw T'ally and Maximus kneel in the grass and start to remove each other's clothes, he knew it was time to give them their privacy. Thus Surak, Father of modern Vulcan, turned off the screen and walked away, unaware of his green-flushed cheeks and still grinning lips.