Posted by Civilian Jal’na of House Duroc (Head of Physical Therapy - Sacred Heart Hospital) in tlhIngan tIq

Posted by Civilian Urg’tohn, Son of the House of Duroc (Klingon Warrior) in tlhIngan tIq

Posted by Civilian Jal’na of House Duroc (Head of Physical Therapy - Sacred Heart Hospital) in tlhIngan tIq
Posted by… suppressed (12) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Jal’na stood beside Urg’tohn waiting for the shuttle from the IKS Gohl to dock. She wore a simple high necked dress in subdued earth tones. She kept her hands firmly by her sides resisting the urge to flex them. Would Lord Noggra come himself? Perhaps out of respect for Urg and their alliance? She didn’t know. She had of course contacted her parents and asked them to come, but she didn’t know if they would leave their Q’onoS. Perhaps her brother might.

Jal’na was nervous, she would admit to herself, though her outward demeanor would not hint at such. Though Urg had an uncanny way of seeing inside her and speaking what he saw. It had been a week that she would never forget. Guards and staff and ground cars and she still had yet to chose an aide. If she could avoid it, she would. Then there was shopping for clothes she didn’t need but was told she did, and the auction and the medalion she couldn’t quite get used to, and what happened when Urg put it on her. She didn’t think about that though. Jal’na thought she would go crazy if she did.

Apparently she had ‘training’ and armor and weapons to ‘look forward to’. Of course the only thing she cared about in all of this, Urg was her husband. That made all the rest worth it. There had been very little work for the exceptional PT this week. She was ready to return to being Dr Jal’na, but she would never be just Jal’na again. From now on she was Jal’na, wife of Urg’tohn, Lord Duroc, and even though she never wished for such she was also Lady Duroc.

Jal’na, bride of Urg

Urg stood next to her, watching the shuttle approach the massive shuttlebay of the IKS Kvaar’ton. He was dressed in his usual House armor and cloak, and he looked down at his wife. “Relax, my bride. It is not you who should be nervous.” and he chuckled a low rumble of a chuckle.

Jal’na’s mouth twitched in a smile. Who would have thought Urg was the type to use endearments? “You have nothing to be nervous about. Lord Noggra was pleased. No one he sent would nay say Lord Noggra or you. Unless he sent Yemil. And then he is probably hoping he offends you and you kill him.” Yemil was impressed with himself and the limited power he only thought he had. Jal’na had deflated his ego on more than one occasion.

“Well I would certainly hate to disappoint such a valuable ally…” Urg mumbled.

Jal’na glanced up at him, “Urg, I was joking.”

The shuttle came through the field separating ship from space and slowly settled on the deck.

Urg, Lord Duroc

The sound of the door seals releasing sent a loud hiss through the shuttle bay. The door lowered and two guards in House Noggra armor stepped out to either side. Jal’na recognized one of them, Vec. She was surprised by the twinge of homesickness the sight if that crest and armor brought. Their eyes flicked across the bay and landed in Urg. Fists slammed to chests and Vec called back into the shuttle and the sound if heavily booted steps on deck plating echoed.

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

Urg nodded and stepped forward just a little. He looked back at Jal’na and then reached back and took her hand and pulled her forward to his side. “Never stand behind me. You are my wife, not a ceremony piece.” and his eyes locked on the hatch.

Urg, Lord Duroc

She was going to have to figure out how to anticipate when he was going to do things, like move. “I am right here, beside you, Husband. I am sure however you are more than capable of handling anything that comes out that hatch on your own.”

The first figure through was Lord Noggra. Then there was a scuffle? Vex looked inside the shuttle and then shrugged slightly. Three men came down the ramp carrying barrels of Bloodwine and grins on their faces.

A woman’s voice, “Get your hand off of me you toothless old fool! I may be old but I’m not feeble yet!”

To which there was a deep reply that sounded like the voice had spent too many years breathing in smoke. “Then prove it.” There were slow but determined foot steps, and bigger quickly hidden grins.

Jal’na was too stunned to feel anything else about the conversation. Her parents had come.

Jal’na, surprised daughter

Urg stepped forward. He foregoed the standard salute when meeting a Lord of the Klingon Council and instead walked up and slammed his hands down on the older Klingon’s shoulders. “Gr’then! It has been far too long my friend. Welcome!” Lord Noggra had braced himself for the gesture, but still he stepped back a bit. Noggra was no small Klingon, and stories of his battle prowess werr still spoken in the halls of rhe noble houses. He looked up slightly at Urg and smiled. “Urg. I am very glad you still draw breath. Each day we do not hear of your demise is a day I laugh at the gods.” He looked past Urg and then stepped past him.

He walked up to Jal’na and looked at her with an appraising eye. He then smiled a knowing smile and slowly, deliberately… set his fist on his heart. “Lady Jal’na of House Duroc. It is my most wonderful honor to see you again… and as the First Lady of House Duroc. I know you will bring great honor upon your house. And to…” and he turned and gestured with an arm., “… your parents.”

Urg, Lord Duroc / Lord Noggra

Jal’na felt that salute all the way to her heart. She returned the salute with a genuine smile that would look like a snarl to others. “Thank you, Lord Noggra. I am deeply honored you have come to celebrate with us.” Her gaze followed his arm, “and quite in awe you got them on a ship.”

Two Klingons stepped off the short shuttle ramp. An older man with grey in his beard and his hair. He stood straight and was attempting to steady the older woman next to him without her knowing he was. Which was a dismal failure as she kept tossing irritated looks at him. The woman had white streaks in her hair and the same cranial ridges as Jal’na. She walked with a noticeable stiffness and limp in her hip. Jal’na moved toward them.

The old woman scanned the House Duroc faces without a pause. Her eyes landed briefly in Urg before moving on and finally spotting Jal’na. When Jal’na reached her, she grabbed her by the shoulders and glared at her for a long moment. Then she placed her hands on both of Jal’na’s cheeks and pulled her down, pressing their ridges together. “My daughter.”

After a long moment she let Jal’na go to be replaced by the older man. “Father.” He grunted with a nod and then hugged her. “Come, I will i troduce you.” She turned, walking to Urg’s side and smiling at him before turning back to her parents. “This is Urg’tohn, Lord Duroc, my husband. Urg, my father and mother, Ch’rath and Gayra Sherko.”

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

Her mother saluted him easily and right away. She may not know her daughter’s inner most thoughts, but she knew Jal’na was a strong, out spoken, determined woman who made no decision lightly. Her father saluted as well, easily and with respect, but like all fathers he reserved the right to judge later.

Urg glared at the two older Klingons for a moment, towering over them. Then slowly and with great solemnity, Lord Duroc lowered himself to one knee before them so that they didn’t need strain their necks looking up. Even on one knee, Urg was eye level with them. “Your daughter has brought great honor to House Duroc… and to me. That you raised such a strong female so driven to pursue her own goals is a testament to the tenacity of her parents- ” and he looked at Lord Noggra, “- and the House that raised her.” He stood up and looked down at them and said “We will speak soon. Lady Duroc and I have something we wish you to consider.” He looked at the assembled Houses and party’s and yelled “Come! We drink and then we go to the surface! Welcome to our House!”

Urg, Lord Duroc

There were cheers at the pronouncement. Drinks and celebration were always welcome. Jal’na knee Urg was looking forward to the vintage of bloodwine Lord Noggra had brought. Ch’rath looked intrigued by Duroc’s statement but said nothing. Gayra was perturbed when Jal’na took her hand and slipped it onto her arm. A very quiet conversation between mother and daughter ensued. “How long has your hip been troublesome?” “Do not berate me. I am old, you just haven’t seen it. With you away it is easy to avoid your lectures.” Jal’na gave her a look, “Well you are here now, and cannot avoid it. You must try to take longer steps and let the muscles stretch.”

The old woman looked around, “Guards Jal’na, even on his ship? Are they really necessary?” There was concern but no doubt as to her safety. Klingon culture was dangerous after all. Jal’na grinned, “No, not here. They are House Duroc’s honor guard. They wish to make a positive impression on the parents of Lady Duroc.” Gayra eyed her daughter, “You are happy as such? I admit I couldn’t quite believe it when you told us. Even with Lord Noggra’s assurance that he had spoken to Lord Duroc himself.” Jal’na rumbled in her throat, “I am happy to be his wife and honored by whatever responsibilities that entails. Now stop changing the subject. Do not turn your foot in. That twists your knee and in turn your hip. You will only make it worse.” Jal’na grinned as her mother made a dissatisfied growl. “We will drink and discuss your hip later.”

Jal’na, bossy daughter

Urg led them deep into the Kvaar’ton and to a large dining room. As they entered, over a hundred House Duroc members of a few dozen species stood and banged their fists on their chests three times in a row. Urg smiled and looked at Noggra and Jal’na’s parents. “I present to you House Duroc’s best.” Noggra stepped past Urg and cast an appraising eye across the crowd in silence. He nodded slightly and said “So it is true… you do allow non-Klingons to hold positions of honor in your house.” and he looked at Urg. Urg looked at Noggra and said “I allow those who earn positions of honor to have them, and only as long as they prove worthy. Species doesn’t matter as much as loyalty and ability.” Noggra looked at him for a long moment. What Urg said was a slap in the face to some of the core tenants of Klingon culture and society. The mere utterance of such words could be ruled as justifiable cause for Urg’s murder. Noggra smiled. “Purity of House is a sickness. It breeds laziness and stupidity.” He rested a hand on Urg’s shoulder. “I am proud of you, my friend.” The implication of Noggra’s words were not lost on Urg, who mirrored the gesture and nodded. After a moment, he dropped his hand and yelled out “Drink! Today is a celebration!” and the crowd erupted in cheers. He looked at Jal’na and smiled. “Today is about us.” and planted a teeth-grinding kiss on her.

Urg, Lord Duroc

Ch’rath and Gayra listened, but if Duroc’s words and Noggra’s affirmation surprised them, they were too loyal to show it. In truth it was not surprising at all. Ch’rath had served Noggra loyally for many years and knew the essence of the man. There were thunderous cheers from both houses as Jal’na kissed him just as fiercely. Room was made for Noggra’s people and casks of bloodwine were placed about the room and the lids were cracked open. Gayra exchanged a look with Lord Noggra who grinned. He was not fool enough to deny a mother when it came to her child. It was an honor he was willing to give her to allow her the first toast from his house. She walked over to a barrel and dipped a mug into the drink. She turned, holding it up staring at Jal’na. “Today is a glorious day to drink in honor of my daughter and her husband,” her eyes landed on Urg, “and my new son.” She downed the entire mug and slammed it down to more cheers and a rush for the barrels. Jal’na grinned ferally at Urg. “I think my mother finds you charming.”

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

He grinned at her and said “She is no fool,then. Come… let’s us drink, wife.” He walked with her and picked up two mugs and filled them, handing one to her. “To the glory of both our Houses!” and the roar that accompanied the toast shook the ship.

Some time later, bags and barrels were loaded 9na larger shuttle and House Noggra and Lord and Lady Duroc were taken to the surface and to the House Duroc embassy. After everyone was shown their quarters, Urg and Jal’na waited for her parents in the conferemce room.

Urg, Lord Duroc

Jal’na sat beside him, occasionally drinking from her cup. She wasn’t sure how her parents would take the request. Of course she hadn’t expected them to travel to Oed either, so she really couldn’t speculate. They had grown older over the years, which was expected, but they were still her parents. It was good to see them and Lord Noggra as well. He had always been supportive and patient. His respect meant a great deal to her. “You have known Lord Noggra for some time?”

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

Urg nodded but his eyes remained fixed on the door. “Almost two years now. I met him when I went into the High Council chamber the first time.” That was a story every Klingon knew. Urg and his two brothers walked into the Council and Urg threw a sack at the base of rhe Chancellor’s dias and eleven heads rolled onto the floor; House Juuv’s Lord and his elite guards. The Brothers had demanded their House be reinstated and provided proof of not only lying their claim and House Juuv’s betrayal all those millenia ago; but of the existence of rhe Builder and his relationship to none other than Khaless. Their actions almost started a civil war. And had it not been for several smaller but important Houses lending their support to House Duroc, it would have. House Noggra was one. Lord Noggra had personally reviewed the aim and rhe evidence and sided with Urg.

Urg, Lord Duroc

Jal’na had heard the story, second hand, all the way here on Oed. It had all seemed a distant issue to her then. She remembered thinking how strange it was that those brothers had been on her new home, but she had known nothing of it. Perhaps not so strange though, Jal’na had kept to herself, done her work, and stayed out of Klingon issues. She had made a new family with the staff at Sacred Heart and lived out her very simple life, avoiding the volatile politics of Q’onoS. She had felt it did not concern her. Fate had a sense of humor. “You must tell me your stories, Urg, and those of Kvaar’ton. I should know them.”

There was a knock on the door and after being bade to enter the door opened and her parents entered. Her mother looked about curiously, saw Jal’na watching her and her gait adjusted slightly to limp less. Jal’na smirked as her mother attempted to avoid a lecture from her daughter later. Her father looked about, taking in the architecture and craftsmanship of the building and furniture with a knowing eye, as they made their way toward them.

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

Urg stood and gestured to the chairs opposite he and Jal’na. “Come. Sit. Drink? Food? Anything you wish. It will never be said House Duroc does not treat it’s guests well.” and he chuckled. He looked down at Jal’na and the back at her parents.

Taking a seat, Urg set his hands flat on the table in front of him. “I will not do you the disservice of wasting your time. I… we… want you to stay on Oed. Stay near to Jal’na and myself. I want to know how to make that a reality.”

Urg, Lord Duroc