Metamorphosis - Jean Lorrah [110]
“Oh, she could hold many men under her spell,” Ulia put in, “as one of Melinia’s daughters did. An evil woman, that one-misused her gift and died when one of the men she made her slave attempted to poison the others so as to have her all to himself. In error, she drank of the poisoned wine herself, and good riddance!”
“But Thelia would never give her Kiss to any but Sham,” Lodel said. “Of course not,” Data said flatly.
So his condition was permanent. He could not have Thelia-her duty was to unite the two habitats-but neither could he escape her spell. Somehow, he would have to survive. The best thing was to get away as quickly as he could, and call for beamup. But his planned departure was interrupted by the sudden arrival of two men wearing gold and white tabards.
“You are the visitor from the land of Starfleet?” one asked. “Yes,” Data replied.
“Princess Thelia wishes to see you,” the messenger told him. Data’s heart stirred with hope. Thelia’s wedding had not yet taken place.
How well could she know the Prince of Tosus? She and Data had shared more in their brief time together than many close friends in years of acquaintance.
The union of the habitats-that was what Thelia had asked for. The gods had granted that. If there had been any mention of a marriage, Data would certainly remember. If Thelia deserted her bridegroom, it might provide generations of stories for the people of Atridia, but she had already done everything they had asked of her. And once she knew that Data was human, and could and did love her-The gods must have arranged his return. Of course comt was why Thelia had kissed him in the first place, the only way she dared indicate to the gods her fear of entering into a loveless marriage. She did not owe her people her happiness. The Kiss of Bonding might make Sharn love her, but the story of Melinia’s daughter made very clear that it would not create love in the one who bestowed it. The gods had brought Data back here, in human form, just in time to deliver Thelia from a life of 306 dutiful obligation. In a daze of hope, he entered the reception room where Thelia waited.
She was more beautiful than he remembered.
And her eyes lit with joy when she saw him.
“It is true then!” she said, crossing the room swiftly, taking his hands in hers. “Though I had hoped-was He looked into her eyes-and saw disappointment.
He did not see recognition.
Thelia shook her head sadly. “Do not mistake me. I am pleased that someone from Starfleet could come to share my happiness, but-was she let go of his hands, and lowered her gaze-“I had prayed it would be Data himself.” “No,” Data said, lowering his own eyes, for fear he could not keep Thelia from seeing what was in them now. “He could not come.”
“Of course. I should have known,” Thelia said. “You must tell me what has happened to Data. Does he ever speak of our Quest? Is he happy with the gift he received from the gods?”
Data sat beside her, his hands folded stiffly across his lap. “I cannot say if Data is happy with his gift,” he began, “but I know he would want me to ask if you are happy with yours.”
“I have been rewarded many times beyond what I desired,” Thelia said. “Not only will our lands be united, but the gods have provided me with a husband beyond my dreams. Sharn’s only regret is that he was denied the Quest-but what does that matter? He is everything I could ask-not only handsome and strong, but wise and gentle, intelligent, and-was she smiled, and for a moment, despite her elegant clothes and jewels, she was the Thelia he had known once again “comhe makes me laugh.”
“You knew Sham before-?”
“Before my Quest? No. All the agreements for our marriage were arranged by go-betweens many years ago.”
She lowered her eyes. “To be truthful, I feared that it would be difficult to enter a marriage with someone I did not know, but,” her eyes raised