The Tenth Night
| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Tenth Night |
| Author(s): | Jean Lorrah |
| Date(s): | 1976 |
| Length: | |
| Genre(s): | het |
| Fandom(s): | Star Trek: TOS |
| Relationship(s): | Sarek/Amanda |
| External Links: | |
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"The Tenth Night" is a 1976 Sarek/Amanda story by Jean Lorrah.
It was first printed in R&R #1 (July 1976), reprinted in Full Moon Rising (1976), and referred to in Night of the Twin Moons (April 1976). [1]
This story appears to be the first to use the brass bed trope.
Description
'The Tenth Night,' by Jean Lorrah, is part of her Amanda and Sarek series (Night of the Twin Moons). This has the two on their honeymoon and concerns such topics as eugenics, the universal translator, and the role of female aggression in love-making. [3]
Amanda and Sarek begin to adjust to each other - including sexually - in the first weeks of their marriage. She tries to test his physical limits (but can't find them) and shows him how to let her be the aggressor sometimes. [4]
Excerpts from the Story
As Amanda "proceeded," she could feel that keeping his hands on the railings was probably the hardest thing. Sarek had ever done in her presence. She laid her body along his, kissing him, feeling him control the impulse to put his arms around her.When she sat back, letting her hands explore his body, he was breathing hard. She stroked his chest, his belly, his groin, then began to tease him into excitement. He closed his eyes and uttered no protest, although she could see the muscles of his arms stand out as his grip increased. As his body responded to her touch, she mounted him, feeling him increase even with in herself as she moved slowly, deliberately, pleasing herself and prolonging their pleasure as he either could not 01 would not do.
It delighted her to control him in this fashion, his frustration adding to her pleasure. Leaning forward, lying upon his chest, she found that she had pinioned him so that he could not comfortably bend his head far enough for her to kiss him. So she reached her hand to his face and joined him in the
mental union that was the most important element of their lovemaking. Their shared perceptions showed him what it was she found in assuming control, assured him that it was not something she needed constantly — but that she did need to share in every part of their relationship, including aggression.
Later:
"But my wife, if there is ever anything else that you fear to say, think of this experience. And if I should try to stop you, feel free to remind me of..." He had reached out toward the railing of the brass headboard, where his hands had been imprisoned at Amanda's direction.
He was facing it; she was facing him, and saw a look of astonishment cross his features for just one fleeting instant as he looked at what his hands had encountered.
As Amanda turned to look, he completed his statement in a voice carefully devoid of all emotion. "If I ever frustrate you again, Amanda... remind me of how frustrated it is possible for me to be."
And then she saw what he was looking at: there on the once-smooth poles of the brass headboard were the unmistakable imprints of both his hands.
Referenced by Lorrah in a Later Story
From Night of the Twin Moons (1976):
He thought of his own abysmal ignorance of anything beyond anatomical facts when he met Amanda -- he had not even had the grace to know he should have been embarrassed! That he should find himself being praised for technique tonight was a tribute to Amanda's teaching skill. Yet most of it she had let him learn for himself, rarely deliberately setting out to teach him a particular lesson. A single exception stood out in his memory the antique brass headboard that stood behind their Vulcan bed at home bore mute witness with the imprint of his hands to the night when she had taught him of her frustration before his great strength.
Fan Comments
1976
The stories involving sex were tastefully explicit and the "human interest" category is satisfyingly fulfilled (with the exception of Jean Lorrah's "Tenth Night" where Vulcan interest is delightfully handled).[5]
This zine debuts with this issue. It begins with another Jean Lorrah "Sarek and Amanda" story about the first 10 days of their marriage. More exposition than dialogue, but well written. [6]
1977
'The Tenth Night' is a somewhat rambling tale of of the events occurring ten days after Amanda and Sarek's Federation wedding. It seems to be a gap filler more than anything else... [7]
"The Tenth Night", takes place ten days after their Federation wedding, With the use of flashbacks we meet Amanda's brother, his wife and their two sons; we also discover Sarek has a sense of humor, Sarek's mother already has plans for their childcrn using eugenics said and Amanda is horrified, but Sarek manages to calm her fears.[8]
References
- ^ Yes, this April 1976 reference to a July 1976 story is perplexing. There were a lot of reprints by Lorrah, so perhaps this footnote was added to a later printing of "Night of the Twin Moons."
- ^ from Interphase #4
- ^ from The Halkan Council #23
- ^ Halliday’s Star Trek Zinedex (TOS) - Title Index (2006), Archived version
- ^ from Metamorphosis #2 (1976)
- ^ from Sharon Ferraro in Menagerie #10 (1976)
- ^ from Interphase #4
- ^ from Delta Triad #4