by Melissa
Rating: PG. Implied sexual situations. I think someone says "damn". :-)
Disclaimer: Their Graces at Paramount are the lords and ladies of these
characters. I have merely kidnapped them for a brief free adventure.
Many thanks to Michelle for the title.
"Captain on the field!"
Janeway paused just inside the holodeck doors as Chakotay's voice rang out, and she was struck speechless by the sight before her. The sun shone down brightly on a vast grassy field on which several tented pavilions had been set up. Two small canopied platforms with rows of elevated seats flanked the field on either side, and she could see that most of the seats were filled with both costumed crew members and holo- creations. On the left hand platform, front and center, was a beautifully carved wooden chair that had been festively decorated with flowers and streamers. Most astonishing of all, a row of mail-clad men on horseback were lined up across the field, each stiffly at attention.
Her first officer--similarly clad in shining mail, immaculate boots, and a long black and red paneled tunic, his head bare--was walking slowly towards her, B'Elanna at his side. Her chief engineer was wearing a long flowing gown of yellow that she had caught up in one hand, and a crown of daisies actually rested on her hair. *What is going on?* Janeway thought, looking around.
Chakotay drew in his breath sharply as Janeway entered, and then hid a smile at her stunned surprise. The long walk towards her gave him ample time to enjoy the sight of her in the dress B'Elanna has replicated and left in her quarters, along with a cryptic note to put it on and meet them on the holodeck at 1400 hours. The gown was a silvery blue--*the color of her eyes,* he thought--, fitted tightly at the waist and flowing to the ground in a fuller skirt. Three quarter length sleeves showed slender wrists; the rounded collar just covered her shoulders and bared a large expanse of graceful neck. To his absolute delight, her hair was caught high at the back of her head with silver ribbons and fell to her shoulders in a mass of red-gold curls. Delicate silver filigreed jewelry sparkled at throat and ears.
Janeway waited for them to approach, one eyebrow slightly raised, a half-smile ghosting about her mouth. When they closed the gap to only a few feet, B'Elanna swept a curtsey to the ground before her, a wicked grin lifting her lips. Chakotay then held a hand out, and after a moment's hesitation, Janeway placed hers in it. Unlike the half-Klingon beside him, his face was completely serious as he bowed over her hand. Keeping hers tightly in his, he turned to face the field with her on his left.
"My friends," Chakotay called in the loudest voice she had ever heard him use, "May I present the Lady Kathryn, our liege! Welcome to this tournament which honors the day of her birth. A long and happy life to her!"
One of the mounted knights barked out a command, and as if one body, they raised their lances in a solemn salute. Seconds later the crowd was on its feet, cheering wildly. Janeway looked around at her assembled crew, tears stinging her eyes at the display they had arranged for her.
"Happy birthday, Kathryn," Chakotay said tentatively under the noise. She hadn't said anything yet, and he wasn't sure how she was reacting to the spectacle. "I know you don't like to have a fuss made, but the whole crew--"
Janeway turned to him, making no effort to hide the emotion on her face. "I'm honored, Chakotay. It's incredible." Her smile suddenly made the day brighter, and his own dimples flashed in response.
"You haven't seen anything yet." He made a gesture towards the knights, who began to move off the field. "Captain, if you'll follow B'Elanna, she'll take you to your seat."
Janeway nodded, picking up her gown in one hand and motioning B'Elanna ahead with the other. Her first officer bowed again as she moved off, and a laugh bubbled up from her chest. *The whole crew in on this,* she thought. *I can't wait to see what happens.*
"Here you are, Captain," B'Elanna said with a grin, leading her up to the beautiful wooden chair that overlooked everything. Now that she was closer, Janeway noticed another similarly carved chair next to her, and seven less elaborate ones in a row behind them. These nine chairs were separated from the rest of the stands by a set of beribboned rails. Janeway smiled and greeted the crew members who were seated in the vacinity, accepting good wishes and waves, and then carefully settled in her seat. B'Elanna sat in the chair next to her, glancing around at the crowd.
"Chakotay said you would want some explanations, so I am here to provide them for you. He said I should answer any questions you have."
Janeway nodded thoughtfully, a small smile on her face, the stress of the past weeks edging off a little. "The whole crew planned this?"
B'Elanna nodded. "The party was Harry's idea, and Tom wrote most of the program, which wasn't easy with Chakotay breathing down his neck all month." Her eyes widened a little, and Janeway knew she hadn't meant to say that. The engineer rushed on, "After the tournament, there's a banquet planned back at the castle."
"The castle?" the captain smiled wryly. "Lieutenant Paris must have been busy."
"There's jousting planned, and hand to hand combat, and some entertainment between. And whoever wins the tournament will be your "knight of the night", you could say--that's what this second chair is for. They will be the co-host of the banquet. Tom did a lot of research for this, it's very traditional," she added in response to Janeway's quizzical look. "Everything will be quite genuine. I think you're going to be surprised."
"I already am," Janeway said, her smile spreading. The crew had done this for her. She had always been wary about joining in their after-work activities, not wanting them to feel inhibited because of the presence of their captain, and they had planned this whole day for her. "Have the shifts been arranged so that everyone can attend for awhile?"
"Chakotay took care of everything."
*I bet he did,* Janeway thought, her eyes seeking and quickly finding the dark head of her first officer on the other side of the field. He seemed to be conferring with one of the "knights", and then she saw him turn away and gesture to someone else who stepped forward and cupped his hands over his mouth.
"The first joust will commence immediately! Sir Harry of Kim and his Grace Thomas, Duke of Paris!"
Two mailed figures rode out onto the field, one taking a position at the far end. The other, however, rode his horse right up to the stands where Janeway and B'Elanna sat and dismounted, pulling his helmet off with one gloved hand. The sun glinted off Paris' blonde hair as he walked forward towards the stand.
"I would beg a favor, milady," he said loudly to B'Elanna, a twinkle in his eye. She flushed furiously, a dangerous gleam lighting her eyes.
"A what?"
Janeway leaned over to her, getting into the spirit of things. "A favor, Lieutenant. In medieval times it was customary for a lady to give a token to a knight going off to battle if she had great affection for him."
B'Elanna flushed even darker at her words, looking at her and then back at Paris who waited patiently. "What do I give him?" she hissed at Janeway, her indecision and self-consciousness palpable. Janeway leaned over and whispered in her ear, thoroughly enjoying the situation unfolding before her. The engineer glanced sharply at her, and then smiled a little, nodding once.
"Bring forth your lance, your 'Grace'," she said, her voice growing stronger with each word but sliding irreverently over his 'title'. A shocked smile lit Paris' face like starshine, and he remounted his horse and came closer, dipping his lance towards her. She bent down and ripped a piece of yellow cloth from the inner hem of her dress, and quickly, before she could change her mind, leaned over the rail and tied it to the end of the lance. Paris' hand came up to his head in a brief salute, and he turned and rode back to the end of the field.
"No fair, Maquis," Harry yelled down the field, grinning like a fool.
"You'd never win anyway, Starfleet," she called back affectionately, settling back into the chair next to the captain. Then suddenly she brought a hand up to her face, covering it momentarily, and groaned. "I can't believe I just did that."
Janeway patted her shoulder in comfort. "Chin up, B'Elanna. We'll talk about it officially some other time, but personally, you have my blessing. The rest of the crew will fall into line."
B'Elanna gaped at her, and then her face softened into a grateful smile. "Thank you, Captain; we've been worrying about whether or not you approve."
"I can hardly expect the crew to put their lives on hold for seventy years. I been expecting someone to be the first to make the move towards a shipboard relationship...I'm glad we will have an example amongst the senior crew when I start to make changes to the fraternization policy." *There, that was worded well,* Janeway congratulated herself, keeping her eyes fixed firmly on the two officers who were prepping for their first charge.
*The example should come from higher up,* B'Elanna thought, shooting a look at the captain under her lashes. "We'll do our best," she said, lightly, and then leaned forward in her chair as Harry and Tom kicked their horses into action.
A whoop came up from the crowd as one man was easily knocked from his saddle to the ground.
B'Elanna sat back in her chair, laughing in disbelief until her sides ached, as Tom Paris stood up and dusted himself off. The captain was on her feet, calling congratulations to Harry, who was smiling widely from his seated position. Brief anger flashed across Paris' face, but it quickly vanished as Harry offered him a hand from above. The blonde pilot took it, his grin flashing, as he said something to his friend no one could hear but had the young ensign laughing loudly. He then gestured to someone at the side, who came forward and took his horse away. Straightening his shoulders and brushing off his dignity, he walked off the field and took his seat behind the captain. B'Elanna wiped a few tears of laughter from her eyes and took her proper seat next to him as Janeway turned around with a smile.
"Good work, Tom," she said quietly, and he nodded, his throat tightening a little as he caught her message. The Paris of old would have made a scene or ridiculed Harry, pulling him down from his horse. But this Tom Paris had grown in the Delta Quadrant, maturing into what his teachers at the Academy had always hoped to see in him. The captain's pride settling over him like a mantle, he sat back in his chair, B'Elanna's favor in his hand now. The half-Klingon took it from him, tying it around his wrist with a small bow, and then clasped his fingers in hers.
"Don't worry--you'll get your chance at hand to hand combat later," she murmured into his ear. He raised an eyebrow at her, a wicked gleam in his eyes answering that of her own.
"I'll let you win, B'Ela," he said.
"Let me win? Paris, you have no idea."
***********************************************************
As the day went on, Janeway was joined in the box by Neelix and the Doctor, and then later by Harry, who lost in the fifth round to Ensign Christopher. Tuvok gave an impressive showing in the hand to hand combat rounds, placing first after eight rounds. Chakotay, however, didn't take part in any of the events. He spent the day trotting up and down the sides of the field, organizing the competition, lining up entertainment, calling out orders, and staying far away from the captain's box. If he walked over once, he feared he would never leave, or worse, tell her what was going to happen at the final duel. She was the only one who didn't know, and he had no idea how she would react. Probably not well, but at this point, there wasn't anything to lose.
Janeway found her gaze upon him many times throughout the day. Twice when Harry had advanced to the next round their eyes had met across the field, both times he had smiled and nodded and then found something to do quickly. She was a little surprised by his behavior; he was the only crew member who was not treating her like "one of their own". Considering that there had been times over the last four years when he had been the only one to treat her as a friend and not a captain, this was a big turnaround. She lifted her chin in the middle of these thoughts, determined that her first officer's inattention to her would not affect her or her enjoyment of her birthday.
Finally, the sun was drawing low in the sky as the announcer called for the final duel. The combatants had chosen hand to hand combat, he shouted, and then he summoned forth Lieutenant Commander Tuvok to fight the Captain's Champion.
"The what?" Janeway asked, turning in her chair to face her senior crew. Tuvok, Paris, B'Elanna, Harry, Neelix and the Doctor all exchanged glances before the Vulcan spoke.
"The crew has unanimously selected someone to fight the day's victor on your behalf, Captain. According to the Earth rituals Lieutenant Paris researched, he has been titled your 'Champion' for the fight."
"We hope you understand, Captain," B'Elanna said impulsively, as Tuvok stood and strode onto the field. Janeway turned back around, and comprehension dawned immediately.
Chakotay stood in the middle of the field, his head high, the clothing he wore suddenly significant to her. Now she understood why he had not taken part in any of the earlier events; now she understood the black and red in four panels--command colors, one for each of the pips she usually wore; now she understood his reticence to talk to her. He met her gaze evenly, letting little show on his face as he walked a little closer and bowed.
"I shall endeavor to defend you to the best of my ability, Captain, and be worthy of the choice your people have made," he said, his voice carrying to the hushed crowd. His hidden promise was not lost on Janeway, who sat very still in her chair for a long moment as his eyes asked for what his voice and pride would not allow. Slowly, carefully, she rose from her seat, her hands rising to her hair without trembling, she was grateful to realize. Gently she tugged one of the silver ribbons loose and gestured him forward. His eyes widened as he understood, and slowly he moved towards her as she came down from the box and joined him on the edge of the field.
"You have always been worthy, Chakotay," she said quietly, her eyes telling him what her voice and protocol would not quite allow. A quick glance at what he was wearing made her decision for her, and she knelt on the ground and laced her ribbon through his boot straps, tying it tightly. Then she stood back up, a hesitant smile in her eyes, a slightly apprehensive look on her face, as if she couldn't believe what she had just done. "Good luck," she said simply.
"Kathryn--"
"We'll talk about it later. I expect you to trounce Tuvok royally," she smiled.
An answering grin brought his dimples back out. "I've been looking forward to it for four years," he replied before turning and striding out onto the field.
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